Election cycles should be predictable. There are a number of variations
that could be considered but I think that we would be better off
returning to 2 year terms. There was no Issues List back then (was it
'93 or '95 when we changed?) but I suspect a number of Lister's might
have been involved on side of the issue or the other.
The main arguments for switching to four year terms for the council
were:
1) Save money by skipping one whole election cycle.
2) Mayor and council should have four year terms concurrent.
3) Council members would be able to focus on long range issues; not
have to think "short term" by facing election every two years.
4) Longer term in office gives council members more time to grow
into
their office, develop skills, partnerships, etc.
I worked against the change. Okay, I am an election junkie. I admit it!
I love elections and campaigns. I also think that they are the most
essential and most powerful device that we have as citizens.
What was both confounding and disappointing however, was that so many
people in Minneapolis cared not one whit about the
advantages/disadvantages of four year terms, but were determined to vote
in favor of four terms because:
1) I hate elections . . . the fewer the better!
2) Fewer elections would result in lower taxes!
3) Two years isn't enough time in office!
4) Won't have to see candidates at my door, lawn signs, flyers as
often!
Rarely, as I recall, did voters offer up the "good public policy"
reasons and if they did, they were probably active in the campaign to
switch to four terms.
My question: did the switch to four year terms net better government, a
better functioning city council, more focus on long term rather than
short term outcomes? Did it make Minneapolis a better governed city?
Jim Bernstein
Fulton
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of David Brauer
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 4:57 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Mpls] City Council districts
Andy Driscoll, like me, supports 4-4-2 for council terms, but he does
bring
up an interesting wrinkle: electing the council at the same time as the
mayor.
Since the Minneapolis mayor is not bound by redistricting, she or he
will be
elected every four years - 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2025
If you go 4-4-2 for council terms, you go 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021,
2023...2027? Come 2023 (mind-boggling, I know), your council is now
elected
(a la St. Paul) on a different schedule than the mayor...at least in the
2025 and 2029 mayor's elections. (Everyone comes back together again in
2033.)
Like Andy, I believe the mayor and council should be elected together.
(I do
not like "free shots" for councilmembers angling to move up...more
mischief
than is necessary.)
Therefore, you to create back-to-back two-year terms, not just 4-4-2,
but
4-4-2-2 (or, for the truly complete cycle, 4-4-4-4-2-2).
Not sure how much bigger fight politicians would put up against two
2-year
terms instead of one, but it's a factor reformist wonks should figure
out
when advocating a plan.
David Brauer
Kingfield
on 11/18/03 3:40 PM, Andy Driscoll at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> (The error for St. Paul, and I take partial responsibility for not
seeing
> this coming, is that the start of four-year terms went into effect two
years
> before it should have, and that resulted in staggered 4-year terms
between
> the mayor and the council. This year, the council, in 2005, the mayor.
Not a
> good thing for many reasons, but all city offices should be elected in
the
> same year.)
>
> Andy Driscoll
> Saint Paul
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