Saving city money is important, but not if the cost is removing
the spotlight from local City Council elections. And the added
expense
– lengthening the terms by one year for all currently on the
City Council – is unseemly enough to prompt a
”
Vote No
”
recommendation for the city Even Year Elections Measure which
will appear on the November ballot.
1. Lengthening terms of City Council members an unseemly proposition
Saving city money is important, but not if the cost is removing the spotlight from local City Council elections. And the added expense – lengthening the terms by one year for all currently on the City Council – is unseemly enough to prompt a “Vote No” recommendation for the city Even Year Elections Measure which will appear on the November ballot.
Having City Council elections on odd years keeps the spotlight on what’s important locally. That’s far more important than saving a small percentage of the city budget every two years.
2. 60% of Gilroy voters are registered to vote permanently by mail
If money’s the issue – and we understand it’s tight – the Council should get out in front of a decided trend and lead an effort to take a serious look at holding 100 percent vote-by-mail balloting for all city elections. Consider this fact supplied by Elaine Larson, assistant registrar of voters for Santa Clara County: fully 60 percent of all Gilroy voters are already registered as permanent vote-by-mail voters. That’s 9,941 of 16,566, according to Larson.
Anyone who has read literature on the issue related to Oregon becoming a 100 percent vote-by-mail state also knows that the system has increased voter participation.
3. Secure ballots and local elections that don’t get lost in the crowd
So, if our city’s goal is to reduce costs, increase participation, have secure ballots and ensure that our local elections do not get lost in the dizzying maze that accompanies an exhausting slate of federal, state and county issues, then vote by mail is the way to go.
It might take some work. It’s unclear if state elections law allows 100 percent vote-by-mail ballots for a municipal election. Larson said that interpretation would be up to the city clerk and legal counsel. But if necessary it would certainly make sense for the Council to lobby state legislators like Assemblywoman Anna Caballero for a change.
For now, keeping the terms to four years and in odd years is what’s best for Gilroy.
Voters should reject extending City Council terms and vote no on the ill-conceived Even Year Elections Measure.
