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Council will discuss shifting city elections
Feb 13, 2012 (The Free Lance-Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Fredericksburg's voter registrar wants the city elections moved from May to November.
"We should conduct city elections in November just because of economics and to increase the voter turnout as well," Juanita Pitchford said.
The past four elections the city has held for seats on the City Council and the School Board -- May 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 -- have had low voter turnouts.
In the May 2010 election, which elected members representing each of the wards, 843 people voted, out of the 13,162 who were registered.
That election cost $13,733, Pitchford said.
And now, a bill that has been passed by the House of Delegates would require localities to reimburse the State Board of Elections for races that aren't held in November.
The city already pays for May elections, but would end up paying more for the work that state officials do.
In an email to the city attorney, Councilman Fred Howe III asked what it would take to move local elections to November. The council will discuss the issue Tuesday.
"The Virginia governor's election cycle would on the surface seem to be a much better fit for our local governmental elections," Howe said.
He said state issues of budgeting transportation and school funding are more closely aligned with local issues that come up in local elections.
Councilman Brad Ellis said he agrees with Howe, but others on council are opposed to moving the municipal elections.
"I do think that local issues will get lost in all the media blitz and the literature blitz that will come out in a state and a federal election," said Councilwoman Mary Katherine Greenlaw. "I think it might be hard for voters to focus on local issues."
There's another reason she -- and others -- want to keep local elections separate, though.
"My primary concern is to keep party politics out of local elections," she said.
Councilman George Solley agrees.
"Though you may get a few more voters in November, those may not be attentive to local politics," he said.
Moving the election would require revising the city's charter and sending a resolution to the General Assembly, among other things.
If the majority of council members want to study the issue, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley said she will research the legalities involved.
Robyn Sidersky 540/374-5413
Email: rsidersky@freelancestar.com
___ (c)2012 The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.) Visit The Free Lance-Star
(Fredericksburg, Va.) at www.fredericksburg.com/flshome Distributed by MCT
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