WESTOVER — Westover City Council intends to take up changes to the city’s charter pertaining to the city’s municipal elections.
During Monday’s regular meeting, City Clerk Sandie Weis said she intends to have ordinances prepared for council’s May 15 session that would extend the term of office for the position of mayor from two to four years and move the city’s election in-cycle with the county.
The city’s charter currently spells out staggered four-year terms for the city’s six council members, but two-year terms for mayor.
Weis said the move was requested by members of council.
“As you all know, you can’t get much done in two years. The council terms are four years. The feeling is mayor should be the same,” she said.
Weis said the city also intends to eliminate its standalone election, held on the second Tuesday in June in even-numbered years, and move in-cycle with the county’s May primary election.
“We would be part of the primary and then those elected would take office July 1 just like always,” she said, explaining the move will save the city money and hopefully increase participation.
Mayor Bob Lucci received the most votes of any candidate in the 2022 election with 122.
“Plus it’s become really hard to find poll workers now. All my poll workers have kind of aged up. They don’t want to do it anymore, and young people don’t want to spend 15 hours here for $150, Weis said.
“Carye [Blaney] has all the equipment to do it electronically. We have ballot boxes and paper. We just think it’ll be more efficient run through the county, and we may see a better turnout.”
City administration is hopeful the charter changes can be made by ordinance, which requires two readings and one critical public hearing.
“We can change the charter by ordinance if there are no objections. If there are objections by any member of the public to the charter amendment it would have to be a more formal process of putting the change on the ballot,” City Attorney Tim Stranko said. “So, we’re optimistic we’ll be able to get this done with no objections. If not, it has to be a ballot issue.”
If the process ultimately gets approved — be it by a vote of council or the electorate — Westover would become the second municipality to move its election in-cycle with the county.
Star City’s voters approved the same move 387 to 49 during the November 2022 general election.
