The People Will Have Their Say

I appreciate the efforts of the Mayor and Council to make this election change one step closer to becoming reality. I can also appreciate Councilman Risner's thoughtful opposition.This referendum represents tangible election reform and will be welcomed news to the voters of Culpeper. Here is the story. 

From the Culpeper Exponent

The Culpeper Town Council voted Tuesday night to let its voters decide when they want to vote in town elections — in the spring or in the fall.

By an 8-1 decision at its regular meeting, town council moved to put voter referendum on Election Day this November the oft-debated question of whether to change the Town Council election from its current May timetable of every even year to November of every odd year, when presidential elections are not held.

“There seems like overwhelming public support,” to change the election date, said Culpeper Town Councilman Dave Lochridge, a leading voice on council supporting the switch.

If approved by voters this November, the first Culpeper Town Council election held in that month would be in 2015.

Several citizens in recent years, including the president of the electoral board, have advocated for the switch saying a council election coinciding with the general election would save money and resources and increase voter participation.

In the last town council election last May, less than 10 percent of eligible voters participated.

Most recently, former West Coast city councilman Jon Russell formed a grassroots group to push for the election date change. He attended Tuesday night’s meeting in support of council’s decision to put the matter to voter’s referendum.

“I want to thank you for keeping this issue alive,” said Russell, a former Washougal, Wash., City Councilman during Tuesday’s public comment session prior to council voting to do the referendum.

He said after he was happy with the result.

“Just the fact that we got them to do something — that’s huge,” Russell said.

Holding the council election in November as part of the general election would cost half of what it costs to do it in May, according to Mary Dale with the Culpeper Electoral Board. She has sought for years to change the date of the council election in an effort also to maximize the use of election officers.

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A Night of Family Fun in Manassas

Last night we decided to take the girls to historic Manassas for a an evening of ice skating and Cajun creole. Downtown Manassas is beautiful in the evenings and the close proximity of the ice rink and the restaurant made it a pleasurable for the whole family.

 

 

Former city councilman organizes movement to change town council election monthl

By Allison Brophy Champion -abrophy@starexponent.com (540) 825-0771 ext. 101

A former West Coast city councilman is leading an effort to change the election of Culpeper Town Council from May to November. Town of Culpeper resident Jon Russell wants to take the oft-debated question to the voters.

To that end, he will host an organizational meeting Thursday Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Culpeper County Library for the launch of his new group, "All Voters Welcome in Culpeper."

"We are a nonpartisan coalition of voters," Russell said in a news release.

The purpose of All Voters is put to referendum on the fall ballot his proposal for a November Culpeper Town Council election. Russell specifically proposes to move the town election from May of every even year to November of every odd year, when presidential elections are not held.

"This change will approximately save the town of Culpeper $12,000 per election cycle and increase voter participation from 10 percent to 37 percent," he said.

Russell moved to Culpeper in July from Washington state, where he served six years on Washougal City Council. The Columbian newspaper described him as "a lightning rod" during his term of office saying he "clashed frequently" with the mayor, "brought national causes to city government and backed conservative challengers against veteran council members in the 2011 elections."

Russell works now for a Manassas-based anti-abortion organization called Medical Students for Life, and is obviously interested in getting involved in local politics in Culpeper. But he said he is not interested at this time in running for local elected office.

"I really enjoy Culpper and I just want to use my years of municipal experiecnce to help the current town officials be successful in their positions," Russell said.

Regarding the change to the town election, he has proposed the following referendum language to appear on the ballot: "Shall the town of Culpeper change the election day of the mayor and members of the town council from the May general election in even-numbered years to the November general election in odd-numbered years beginning with a change in the scheduled May 2014 election to November 2015?"

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Source: Culpeper Star Exponent

All Voters Welcome in Culpeper Announcement

We are proposing to move the town election from May to general election of every odd year starting in 2015. This move will save taxpayers $12,000 and will increase voter turnout from 9% to 37%.

All Voters welcome will be having an organizational meeting to push forward a referendum to move the town election. Feb. 21st 6pm @ the Culpeper County Library. 

Exponent Endorses Draft Ordinance

I am very pleased to have the Culpeper Star Exponent's endorsement of my draft ordinance to change the town's election date.

OUR VIEW: Town should move election to November

Recently, town resident John Russell brought up the subject of moving the town election from May to November.

We're not sure why it hasn't happened already.

In the last town election held in May 2012, only about 10 percent of registered voters turned out in the town.

That's not acceptable.

There needs to be a change made, and we're surprised council hasn't acted on it already. Councilman Dave Lochridge is the only one who has supported the date change in the past.

Holding the council election in November as part of the General Election would also cost half of what it costs to do it in May, according to Mary Dale with the Culpeper Electoral Board. She has sought for years to change the date of the council election in an effort also to maximize the use of election officers, but to no avail.

Councilmen have expressed concern that moving the date may involve partisan politics. Other councilmen felt that grouping the town candidates with state and federal candidates on the same ballot would cause local candidates to get lost.

We don't believe that would be a problem. Culpeper voters are well educated and thoughtful people, they will educate themselves on who will represent them and vote accordingly.

Now, we do believe that holding town elections in odd numbered years makes the most sense. Look at the lines caused by the presidential election in 2012, we wouldn't want voters to have even more choices in those years and be stuck in longer lines.

As Russell pointed out, the change would also give councilmen another year on their terms if the proposal was adopted starting in 2015. Culpeper Town Council holds its elections in May in even number years with council members serving four-year terms.

Eighty-five percent of voters on our online poll agreed that it's time to move the election to November, it just makes the most sense.

Should the town move its election to November? 

Yes - 85.6%

No - 14.4%