New Bloomfield municipal election proposed change ballot language
[]The New Bloomfield Board of Aldermen recently voted to put a ballot issue on the April 7 ballot, which, if approved, would allow the city to forego an election if the candidates who file are running unopposed.
If this ballot issue is approved, the city would still have to hold municipal elections any time more than one candidate files for the same alderman seat or for mayor. If the races are uncontested, however, the city would not have to have an election. This would not, as the Fulton Sun was previously told, extend the term length for aldermen elected after running unopposed. Aldermen terms would continue to be two years if this ballot issue is passed by voters.
If voters approve this ballot issue in April, the ordinance would allow the city to not have to hold municipal elections for a period of six years - unless a race is contested - starting in 2016. After six years, the city would have to put the ballot issue back on the ballot for voters to again approve.
The board decided to put this on the ballot with the hopes that its the passage would save the city money. The city spends more than $700 when an election is held, even if the candidates run unopposed.
The board was able to put this on the ballot because of legislation passed in 2014. The legislation states, "The governing body in jurisdictions with 1,000 or fewer inhabitants may pass an ordinance to forego such elections when the number of candidates who have filed is equal to the number of positions to be filled. The passage of such an ordinance authorizes the jurisdiction to refrain from holding such elections for six years from its passage, at which time the jurisdiction is required to pass another such ordinance."
Election day is Tuesday, April 7.
Filing closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20. Current New Bloomfield Aldermen Greg Rehagen and Martha Siegel both refiled for their seats. They were the only candidates to file, therefore, they are running unopposed for two-year terms.