Good Question

5/20/2015

Below is a question submitted by a reader and my response. Really good question. Clearly, one of the thinkers.
__________________________

Jennifer WIlson 05/20/2015 6:56am
If a person has successfully served as mayor until term limited, is there anything in the charter preventing them from running and being elected to the City Council? Why not just do that instead of trying to change the city charter?

Reply Ron Miller link 05/20/2015 7:26am
Thanks for your comment, Jennifer. Good question. I have thought about it. My input to follow.

Reply Ron Miller link 05/20/2015 7:23am
Jennifer--
To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing wrong with a term limited mayor to run for City Council. Of course, that would require giving up first chair and perhaps running against someone on his own council......but I think it could be done. Michael Gallops is also coming up on term limits. He could run for mayor. I assume the mayor could run for city council. Could they agree behind closed doors to change positions? Probably, but............ A. Would Todd agree to work behind Michael? and 2. Would the voters like such a back room arrangement? Technically, I think Todd could run for City Council. However, both swapping positions could produce some problems. It looks a little flim flam.

2 Comments

Jennifer Wilson

5/20/2015 02:12:58 am

I guess if they are both elected to new positions by the vote of the people it would look less flim-flam to me.

I admittedly do not watch the city council meetings, so I do not know what kind of working relationship they have with each other. I would hate to see a city council meeting devolve into a "Excuse me, Mayor Gallops, but that is not how we did when I was charge" type of moment.

For me, as long as the city continues down the path we seem to be on--successful bond elections with plans to fix our overworked infrastructure and new businesses popping up all over--I am okay with what could be a legally elected flip flop of positions. I am NOT okay with changing the city charter to remove term limits as I am an adamant supporter of them. I am also not okay with interpreting the city charter to push a personal agenda for a power grab!

Ron link

5/20/2015 02:32:16 am

The voters are the ultimate oversight committee. If they approve it, it's a done deal. That's what makes voting so important. I was surprised by the voting for the recent propositions. It was double the voting of the last general election. It was still a paltry 7.3%, but far better than the 4.3% on the last general election.

Maybe with interest generated by you and others, Larry's newletter, and this blog, we'll get even more voting if we keep on keeping on.

If the voters support a flip flop, so be it. Voters get what they deserve.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Good Question

Leave a Reply.

Archives

Categories