First, thanks to all of you that made it out on Tuesday in the cold and snow for the public hearing on the city’s proposed election change.  Thanks to those who stood up and demanded answers and to those who couldn’t make it, but helped spread the word by informing family and friends. 

Despite strong public opposition, all but two members of Beckley Common Council voted to move another step closer to eliminating the city’s primary elections during Tuesday night’s public hearing.  The mayor and council members in favor suggest that changing to a single, nonpartisan election is going to increase voter turnout and save the city $40,000 to $50,000.  In researching this topic, my team has uncovered evidence that directly contradicts the suggestion that changing to a single nonpartisan election will increase voter turnout.

What is even more confusing about council’s vote to move the proposed plan forward is that it appears all sides are in agreement about the fact that a better alternative would be to align city elections with the state’s off-year election cycle.  Aligning our election cycles would allow the city to save just as much money by splitting election costs.  This method of coinciding our elections would also guarantee an increased voter turnout since county elections already have a higher number of city voters turn out at the polls.

In a Register Herald report after Tuesday night’s public hearing, Mayor Emmett Pugh said, “Many citizens have contacted city offices, supporting changes to increase voter turnout.  But most of them are also saying they want city elections moved… Sharing the ballot with county, state and federal offices would probably save [the city] even more money.”

My team and I have been doing some additional research since Tuesday’s hearing just to make certain the recommendations I have made to the mayor and council represent a workable solution for the City of Beckley on this issue. The information we have received from the Secretary of State’s office indicates that Council has full authority to shorten their current terms and make the changes necessary to align city elections with county/state elections if they so choose and agree to do so.

To make this change happen in a way that is both beneficial to the city as well as respectful of citizens’ wishes, we should make the move now to begin aligning the city’s upcoming elections with the current state election cycle.  The only requirement that has to be met for us to move forward in this direction is for council to agree to sacrifice 180 days of their current term.

Under this proposal, the city would hold the upcoming primary election in September and the general election in November along with the 2010 state and national mid-term elections.  Every four years thereafter, the city would hold both its primary and general elections in conjunction with the state.  New terms of office would begin in January of the year following the election.

I will submit my letter of formal objection to the Mayor and Beckley Council Members on Monday.  In that letter I will attempt once again to encourage our leaders not to abandon the idea, but simply to amend the current proposed ordinance to align city elections with state and county elections and ensure we achieve the primary objective of increasing voter turnout, while also honoring the wishes of the city voters.

Furthermore, our success in this effort will effectively demonstrate that by working together as a community towards a common goal we can change Beckley.  With your continued support, I honestly believe we can persuade city leaders to move forward on this issue with the best interest of the city and its citizens in mind. 

Dream big,

Tony O. Martin