Chesapeake considers ditching May elections
By Brian Kirwin | Saturday, May 8th, 2010 | PoliticsChesapeake is the latest city to consider joining the new century and eliminating the idiotic May elections designed to depress turnout and have the local machines control City Council races.
The same dumb comments that were untrue in other cities are even sillier in Chesapeake. Check out this mound of brilliance:
“It would immediately turn partisan,” said Councilman C.E. “Cliff” Hayes Jr., chairman of the Chesapeake Democratic Committee. (Virginian-Pilot)
The Democrat Chairman is on City Council!!!! For crying out loud, to any normal person, that’s the definition of partisan!
Chesapeake political parties endorse candidates for City Council and School Board. Reports were full of how the Republican-endorsed slate had victory after victory.
If you think Chesapeake races aren’t partisan, you’re blind.
Oh, and here’s a lovely perennial argument. Proponents of May elections think voters are stupid.
“The good news is, you’d get more people to the polls,” said Pete Burkhimer, chairman of the Chesapeake Republican Party. “But do they come to the polls better informed, or do they just flip a coin for the local races?”
Sorry, Pete. May voters aren’t inherently brilliant. November voters aren’t stupid. If a campaign gets ignored, it’s because it didn’t campaign well.
If you had elections in November this year, you’d share the ballot with one other race – Randy Forbes. No mass confusion. Voters can walk and chew gum. They can vote for Congress and vote for local races. Easy!
Let’s understand. May elections are designed to get low turnout. Ask why, and who benefits from it, and you’ll understand how keeping them in May has very little defense left.
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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Comments
7 Responses to "Chesapeake considers ditching May elections"
I agree 100%! Where I grew up, we had local elections on the odd years, state and national on the even years, but NEVER in May.
I disagree that May elections, per se, are bad. If the results are bad, I’d blame the participants not the system.
I spent some time in Connecticut, where we voted twice a year – in November for candidates and in May for budgets (yup, the entire town got to vote the budget up or down – sometimes it took 2 or three tries, with cuts each time, to pass). Voting is a right, but if you care about good government, it’s a responsibility.
I disagree. May elections give the minority party a “seat at the table” in a over-majority city. Ex- Alexandria elected 2 republicans in a May election.
In Nov., many people just do straight ticket voting.
In Norfolk, there was the May election, ALL of the incumbents won except for 1 and he only lost by less than 150 votes….the establishment holds the reign of may elections very tight.
I support November elections. The more voters turnout and weigh in, the less power any single special interest group or organization has on the election out come. JMO.
I can appreciate the views of both sides of this issue.
Perhaps there should be a referendum in November where the voters can decide when they wish to hold their local elections.
I will be willing to support the decision of my fellow Hampton citizens.
James, good idea, but I can predict the outcome. If the referendum is held in November, November will win. If the referendum is held in May, May will win.
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