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A RESOLUTION OPPOSING ISSUE 48, CHARTER AMENDMENT PERTAINING TO COUNCIL TERMS OF OFFICE
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WHEREAS, now a ward Council member has a two year term and represents one quarter of the city and an at large Council member has a four year term and represents the whole City; and
WHEREAS, City Council is required by Charter to place on the ballot any issue recommended by the Charter Review Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Charter Review Commission desired to stagger the terms of Council members so that all seven were not voted for at the same election; and
WHEREAS, the Charter Review Commission fulfilled their mission as an independent commission charged with looking at potential changes or updates to the City Charter, this Council thinks there are negative consequences that could occur if this proposed change became law; and
WHEREAS, the proposed change would give the ward Council member a four year term and they would only have to run in a geographically defined area that represents one quarter of the City while at large Council members would still have to run a City wide campaign for a four year term; and
WHEREAS, members of this Council believe this change would be a great incentive for candidates to run for ward Council seats, this change would create a great disadvantage and disincentive to candidates running for at large seats; and
WHEREAS, members of this Council believe the proposed change would facilitate the manipulation of the membership of Council through undue influence exercised on the election of a single Ward seat by At-Large Council members; and
WHEREAS, although highly unlikely, the current system allows that voters may choose to vote all elected officials out of office in the same election;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That this Council of the City of Gahanna opposes Issue 48, the Charter change pertaining to Council terms of off...
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