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More Community Corner Methuen City Council votes to eliminate preliminary election
The Methuen City Council in February voted 6-2 in favor of eliminating the primary round of city elections this fall, a move that City Clerk Christine Touma-Conway estimates could save the city $32,400.
The Legislature must approve the home rule petition for it to become effective.
Touma-Conway said she proposed the idea during a meeting of department heads convened to discuss the budget challenges facing the city. She noted that the amount saved would be roughly equivalent to one staff position in the clerkâs office.
Some councillors expressed concern that the proposal could be perceived as unfair to challengers, who could gain credibility for the general election by surviving the preliminary round. Touma-Conway said she argued that it made sense for councillors to vote in favor of the proposal very early in the year, to avoid the appearance of acting in their own political interests.
The idea of saving money by eliminating the preliminary election is being discussed in other communities as well.
Worcester City Clerk David Rushford, who has estimated such a move would save Worcester $165,000, said he will refrain from asking the City Council to vote on his proposal until there is evidence that there will be enough candidates to make a preliminary election necessary.
In Medford, where all City Council and School Committee members are elected at-large, the need for a preliminary election has arisen only twice in the past 15 years, according to Mayor Michael McGlynn.
McGlynn has asked the City Council to approve a home rule petition that would eliminate a preliminary election this fall if it were to be required. Approval of the home rule petition, he said, would allow the city to incorporate the $40,000 in savings into its fiscal 2010 budget.
More Community Corner Methuen City Council votes to eliminate preliminary election
Methuen City Council votes to eliminate preliminary election
The Methuen City Council in February voted 6-2 in favor of eliminating the primary round of city elections this fall, a move that City Clerk Christine Touma-Conway estimates could save the city $32,400.
The Legislature must approve the home rule petition for it to become effective.
Touma-Conway said she proposed the idea during a meeting of department heads convened to discuss the budget challenges facing the city. She noted that the amount saved would be roughly equivalent to one staff position in the clerkâs office.
Some councillors expressed concern that the proposal could be perceived as unfair to challengers, who could gain credibility for the general election by surviving the preliminary round. Touma-Conway said she argued that it made sense for councillors to vote in favor of the proposal very early in the year, to avoid the appearance of acting in their own political interests.
The idea of saving money by eliminating the preliminary election is being discussed in other communities as well.
Worcester City Clerk David Rushford, who has estimated such a move would save Worcester $165,000, said he will refrain from asking the City Council to vote on his proposal until there is evidence that there will be enough candidates to make a preliminary election necessary.
In Medford, where all City Council and School Committee members are elected at-large, the need for a preliminary election has arisen only twice in the past 15 years, according to Mayor Michael McGlynn.
McGlynn has asked the City Council to approve a home rule petition that would eliminate a preliminary election this fall if it were to be required. Approval of the home rule petition, he said, would allow the city to incorporate the $40,000 in savings into its fiscal 2010 budget.
Written by MMA Associate Editor Mitch Evich
