Unlike in Charleston or Washington DC, City Hall should represent a bottom up style of government that is responsive to citizens and gives the public an opportunity to influence government action. The decision to change the city's election procedure would appear to be an important opportunity for meaningful citizen participation. Yet on an issue that is as public as it gets, our city leaders have made little or no effort, beyond what is required by law, to inform the public on their decision, let alone make an effort to involve us in the decision making process.

Nearly two weeks ago, after the first reading and council vote on a proposed ordinance to change city elections, I wrote letters to all seven members of city council addressing my concerns about the current plan. To date, none of them have responded. The reluctance of city leaders to address citizens' concerns on issues that are contrary to their own, has led the community to grow increasingly apathetic and is what I believe is a major contributing factor to low voter turnout in city elections.

In order to make the right change happen we must begin to capitalize on our strengths to ensure we are well positioned to take advantage of, and create new opportunities for moving our city forward to a brighter, better future. This process starts with you. Throughout my campaign and as mayor, I will be committed to enabling residents to play a meaningful role in the evolution of our city and ensuring that their values are reflected in both the work we do and the results we achieve. But for the time being, we must take the initiative upon ourselves as citizens to become more involved and take control of our city's destiny.

If we are planning to move election day, it would only make sense to move it to the voters. We do this by consolidating our city elections with the 2010 statewide elections in November. Not only do we effectively increase voter turnout, but we save the city even more money by sharing election costs. Secondly, giving the voters an option in how we move forward from this point may even encourage future civic involvement and participation. Whether or not the public uses the opportunity to get involved, keeping the option open is most important in building a more vibrant and successful city.

I have included a copy of the proposed ordinance below for your reference. Again, please show your support by attending the public hearing on Tuesday, January, 26 at 7:30 pm in Council Chambers at at City Hall.

Dream big,

Tony O. Martin,
Independent Candidate for Mayor
Beckley, West Virginia

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Public hearing for the following Ordinance will be held during the regular meeting of Common Council on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, in Council Chambers of Beckley City Hall. All interested parties are urged to attend.

AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING CITY OF
BECKLEY CHARTER
SECTION 10,
CONDUCT OF
GENERAL ELECTIONS
(ELIMINATING
PRIMARY
ELECTIONS)

WHEREAS, the City of Beckley Charter currently requires the City, every four (4) years, to hold a primary municipal election and a general municipal election for the offices of Mayor, two (2) Council members at-large, and five (5) ward Council members; and
WHEREAS, each primary municipal election is to be held not later than the fifteenth of March next preceding the general municipal election; and
WHEREAS, each general municipal election is to be held on the fourth Tuesday of May every four (4) years, with the next general municipal election to be held on the fourth Tuesday of May, 2011; and
WHEREAS, the City pays, out of its General Budget, the cost of holding each election; and
WHEREAS, the date of the primary election falls in the early part of March which requires any campaigning to be done in the middle of the winter season, with the weather being a factor in the amount of campaigning a candidate may be able to do; and
WHEREAS, the primary election date in early March is such that severe inclement weather may prevent or discourage voters from exercising their right to vote; and
WHEREAS, the elimination of the March primary election would result in a substantial monetary savings to the City by eliminating fifty percent (50%) of the costs to hold elections every four (4) years; and
WHEREAS, holding one (1) general municipal election in May every four (4) years would reduce the threat of severe inclement weather affecting the amount of campaigning a candidate would be able to do; and
WHEREAS, holding one (1) general municipal election in May every four (4) years would reduce the threat of severe inclement weather preventing a voter from going to the polls to vote.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BECKLEY that the City of Beckley Charter is hereby amended to eliminate all reference to the City primary election, and that the City general election shall be the election in which the Mayor, two (2) Council members at-large, and five (5) ward Council members are elected to serve four (4) year terms.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that this Ordinance shall become effective upon passage, that there shall be no primary municipal election in March, 2011 or thereafter, and that all candidates for City office shall appear on the general municipal election ballot on the second Tuesday of May, 2011, and on the second Tuesday of May every four (4) years thereafter.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Section 10 of the City of Beckley Charter shall be amended to read as follows:
"All candidates for the City offices of Mayor, Council members at-large, and ward Council members shall sign up for the respective office the candidate is running for not less than sixty (60) days before the general municipal election, and it shall be the duty of the said Recorder-Treasurer to certify each candidate’s application prior to the candidate being placed on the ballot, and no candidate is eligible to be voted upon for office in said City whose candidate application has not been so certified by the Recorder-Treasurer. The first general municipal election hereunder shall be held on the second Tuesday in May, 2011, and other elections hereunder shall be held on the second Tuesday in May every four (4) years thereafter, and the term of office shall begin on the first day of July after each such election.
Each election shall be conducted under, and by the direction of, the Council of the said City. The mode of voting shall be by secret ballot. The election in said City shall be held and conducted, and the result thereof certified, returned, and finally determined under the laws in force in this State relating to general elections, except that the persons conducting said election shall, on the day the election is held deliver the ballots, tally sheets, and poll books to the Recorder-Treasurer for safe keeping, and thereafter the Council of said City shall meet within five (5) days (Sunday excepted) after said election and canvass the returns of said election and declare the results thereof, and in all respects comply with the requirements of the statutes of the State relating to elections. The corporate authorities of said City shall perform all duties in relation to such election as the corresponding county officers carrying out similar duties for the county and in general, except as herein otherwise provided, shall be governed by the election laws prescribed in the Code of West Virginia.
(a) The City has been laid off into wards and each ward shall contain such number of voting precincts as the Council shall deem advisable to place therein, but no precinct or part thereof shall lie in more than one ward.
(b) The Common Council shall fix a filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each Common Council position and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the Office of Mayor.
All of the provisions of Chapter Three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, and the amendments thereof, relating to elections are hereby adopted, so far as applicable, subject to the modifications contained herein.
This Ordinance shall become effective upon passage.