Vote YES on ballot questions

yes redSubmitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst

October 11, 2015 7:00 a.m.

 

QUESTION NO. 1

Should the City Charter be amended to provide that City Commissioners shall serve four (4) year terms instead of three (3) year terms and City Elections held every two (2) years in conjunction with county, state and federal elections which will mean the Mayor serves for two (2) years unless removed sooner by majority vote of City Commission?

Fernandina Beach voters will find a question on the November ballot this year that is not new to them. The current City Commission and the two previous ones have all endorsed changing the term of a city commissioner from three years to four. The fact that such a diverse group of commissioners, who in some cases rarely agreed with each other on anything, support this change indicates that it is not an issue that belongs to the left or the right. Rather, it is a step in the direction of creating a more stable city government by keeping politics at bay for 2 years as the commissioners learn to work more productively with each other and the city manager to the betterment of the city.

The concept of 4-year city commission terms is neither new nor revolutionary. Other locally elected 5-member boards have 4-year terms: the Board of County Commissioners, the School Board and the Ocean Highway and Port Authority. Support for this change has also come from the 2007 Charter Review Committee (composed of 7 city residents), consultants, and both former city managers and applicants in the recent city manager selection process.

FOpinions_ SmallerIn the past, opponents of this change have cited benefits to incumbents, who would be “gifted” a 4th year without having to campaign for the longer term. The scenario adopted by this city commission, and presented below, eliminates that concern. Others have raised concerns that having 3 commissioners elected in one cycle could cause too rapid change to come about. The assumption behind such a fear is that 3 candidates would run for election (and presumably, re-election) as a slate, all sharing the same platform. After more than 20 years watching local politics, I find such a scenario improbable at best. Also, it must be kept in mind that not everyone wants to commit 8 years to serving as a commissioner. The commissioner’s salary ($1,000 per month) cannot compete with demands of a full-time, demanding job or family responsibilities.

And, of course, some opponents of the measure would like to see commissioner terms changed to one or two years in the belief that rapid turnover ensures that commissioners whom they deem to be “bad” commissioners, would therefore be able to do less harm. For those who think that the current commission cycle makes for dysfunction, shorter terms – coupled with term limits – would probably ensure that local government could accomplish even less. All one needs as a cautionary tale is the U.S. House of Representatives, where members are always running for office.

Four-year terms would mean that elections are held every two years: three commissioners would be elected in one cycle and two in the second cycle. Term limits still apply. A commissioner leaving office after two consecutive terms would still need to sit out a cycle–which would be 4 years, instead of 3–before running for city commission again. This limitation only applies to Fernandina Beach. County commissioners, school board members and port commissioners can run for as many consecutive terms as they choose.

Because the even-year election cycle brings out greater numbers of voters for the state, federal and county races, the potential for increasing voter participation would also increase. Off year elections and runoff elections have notoriously low turnouts. Another benefit is saving the $13,000 or so that off year elections cost, and saving both staff time and work for the Clerk’s Office.

The savings and benefits would not be realized immediately, however, since the 4-year terms would be phased in. No incumbent commissioner and no commissioner elected this November would be granted an additional year. The first election for a 4-year termed commissioner would occur in 2016. Only one seat – the one currently held by Commissioner Johnny Miller — will be contested in that race. The phase-in would not be completed until 2020. The chart below indicates which seats would convert to 4-year terms by year of the election:

chart

Note that Groups 2 and 3 would not convert to 4-year terms until 2020, and that the first year that would not see an election for city commission is 2019. Under the charter’s term limit provision, neither current Commissioner Tim Poynter (Group 2) nor current Commissioner Robin Lentz (Group 3) would be eligible to seek re-election to a 4-year term. The change would have no bearing on Commissioners Ed Boner (Group 4), who is not seeking re-election this year or Pat Gass (Group 5) who is seeking re-election this year, but who is running for a 3-year term. Candidates winning election to those seats will serve 3 years, since 4-year terms—if approved via the referendum–would not kick in until 2018.

Note that this question would also increase the term of the Mayor from one to two years. Nothing would change with respect to placing the straw ballot question on preference for mayor on the ballot every two years. Nothing would prevent a Mayor from stepping down earlier, should the two-year term prove to be too onerous. The Commission has the authority to replace the Mayor, should that happen.

QUESTION NO. 2

Should the City Charter be amended to repeal Section 18 regarding the date of the annual organizational meeting and monthly meetings throughout the year since it is redundant an already included in the City Code of Ordinances?

Question 2 is a housekeeping change to the City Charter necessitated by the city’s change of election cycle from spring to coincide with the county and state November election cycle. Voting YES will not change any current practice, just clean up the Charter.

I urge all city voters to put aside differences or opinions about past, current or prospective commissioners and vote YES on both questions. These matters are bigger than any one commissioner or candidate. They relate to the efficiency of good government.

 

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Genece Minshew
Genece Minshew (@guest_44790)
8 years ago

While I’ve voted no on 4 Yr commission terms in the past, I’ll vote yes this time. Our current commission structure isn’t working and I think this change will help stabilize our city commission in the coming years.

Steve Reden
Steve Reden(@steveredenbellsouth-net)
8 years ago

Definitely vote NO to extending the term of city commissioners.
I’d prefer changing the term to a two-year term. The shorter the term, the less damage they can do. And, if they do a good job, they can be reelected.

Dave Lott
Dave Lott(@dave-l)
8 years ago

I think folks might feel more comfortable with the 4 year term if the Charter also had provisions for a recall election.