City council members discuss elections

MORGANTOWN — Regardless of whether city leadership opts to alter Morgantown’s charter to extend and/or stagger future council terms, it appears as if the standalone municipal election is here to stay.
Based on a discussion held at the end of the most recent committee of the whole session, five of the six councilors present said they don’t support moving the city’s election in line with the general election held by the county.
County Clerk Carye Blaney recently reiterated her belief that the elections could be combined with little to no extra investment on the county’s end, but a savings of time and resources for the city. Both Blaney and City Clerk Linda Tucker have long advocated for such a move.
The issue resurfaced at the end of January, when the city raised the idea of changing its charter in order to double the length of city council terms from two to four years, and stagger the election so no more than four of seven seats are on any ballot.
During those conversations, the idea of moving the election was once again raised, but as in years past there doesn’t appear to be the will on council to push such a move.
Councilor Rachel Fetty said her mind was changed on the topic during discussions with the 1st Ward Neighborhood Association. Fetty said she feared a move in line with the general election would drown the city’s non-partisan election in partisanship.
“One of the things the charter is trying to accomplish by having a non-partisan election would be subsumed and sucked into this very, very partisan environment around both the primary and general state and federal elections,” Fetty said.
Councilor Jenny Selin explained further.
“I think that it  highlights city issues. It allows us to work with the public and be heard above all the noise and partisanship,” Selin said.
Councilor Ryan Wallace took another perspective, noting the 2017 city election featured races in all seven wards and a general upswing in overall interest, but still only drew about 15 percent voter turnout.
“I think the fervor of the November elections actually increases voter awareness. It may not be the same election, but a rising tide lifts all boats,” Wallace said. “If people are getting engaged in their government and they’re making choices about the national leadership or state leadership, it will help them to make more choices about local municipal leadership as well.”
Mayor Bill Kawecki countered that such a move would also force council members to compete for media and voter attention with state candidates and national storylines. In the end, he said, it’s more important that those who do turn out are informed.
“It’s not so much about having massive amounts of people show up. It’s a matter of having an informed voting public demonstrate their will,” Kawecki said.
Additionally, it doesn’t appear as if the original questions of extending the terms to four years and/or staggering the terms has unanimous support at this point.
Given flagging  turnout for city elections in the  existing concurrent format in which all seven candidates are up every two years, Fetty asked why splitting council elections through staggered terms wouldn’t naturally decrease turnout further.
Others argued longer terms would also mean bigger commitments.
“I’d be willing to make a two-year commitment. Looking into the future, two [years], four, six, however many terms I’m able to do this, but four years is hard,” Councilor Barry Wendell said. “So that’s a selfish thing, but I agree with [Kawecki]. I think it should be in the spring and in the odd years. So if I was going to vote on this now, I’d say let’s keep it the way it is.”
The reasoning given for wanting to extend the terms is time. By the time a new council member is up to speed, he or she is months away from potentially being replaced, starting the process over.
The other side of that coin, Deputy Mayor Mark Brazaitis pointed out, is that the two-year term allows for a more immediate check on council by the voters. While he said he’s still open to be persuaded, it’s not happened yet.
“I appreciate Councilor Wendell’s argument. If it isn’t terribly broke why bother to fix it,” Brazaitis said. “I haven’t been passionately persuaded that it’s broke enough to fix in any capacity whatsoever.”
If adopted, changes would be integrated following the next election and would not affect the sitting council. The city has said any potential charter change would go directly before the voters.
Council will continue the discussion at its upcoming March 6 regular meeting.