01/18/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- Mr. Lieuallen wondered if the State statutes required that the election. be in May. Joyce Benjamin, City Attorney's office, replied yes. She noted the Oregon State Constitution, Article II, Section 14A and the City Charter, Chapter 6, Section 19 provide for this new election ordinance. Nominations have to be made in May with the election by a maj ori ty in November. ' Assistant Manager explained to Council the issue of requiring a majority vote for a successful candidate was discussed at the time of charter revision. He said if Council did not want to follow that procedure, then it would have to amend the charter again. However, staff cautioned Council that under the present charter, the Council would have to pass a code amendment and then go to court to have the majority vote winner of the May primary confirmed as having been duly elected, if it was the intent of Council to avoid having the majority vote winner placed on the November ballot. In the general assessment of State law, it was felt that the City probably would not prevail in such a case, and therefore, staff was reluctant to recommend this code amendment. Ms. Smith said she would like to have City Council discuss a. possible charter revision and requested that this item be placed on a future agenda. e Mayor Keller recalled the intent of the charter revision resulted in the feeling that it was important to have a majority vote for ward representa- tives and this was felt to be the best approach. Also it was recognized that some would not want to incur the cost of running two campaigns. If elected in May, also there would be an interim period for indoctrination for Council. Ms. Smith said, however, if no one received a 50 percent majority in May, they would have to run again and she saw that as a dis- advantage. Mr. Williams said he did not think persons should be elected to City Council with only 15 percent of the vote. It was consensus that whoever represented a ward should have some kind of numerical consensus to repre- sent that ward. Mr. Bradley noted it was difficult to get a majority as there was usually an undervote in ward races. Assistant Manager clarified for Council the primary election would be held in May and the names of either the candidate who receives the majority of votes or the two highest candidates will appear on the November ballot. If only one person has the majority, then there would be only one name on the ballot in November. However, that might subject that candidate to a.write-in campaign, so he may have to incur a second campaign. Mr. Williams commented he did not think there was much hazard of a write-in campaign. C. B. 1591--Concerning elections; adding new provisions to the Eugene Code, 1971; amending Sections 1.010, 2.175, 2.180, 2.960, 2.962, 2.970, 2.985, 2.990, and 2.1990 of that Code; repealing Sections 2.965, 2.975, and 2.980 of that Code; and declaring an emergency was read by council bill number and title only, there being no Council member present requesting it be read in full. e 1/18/78--11 38