What is Issue #49?
CITY OF NORTH ROYALTON
Proposed Charter Amendment
Shall Article XVII, Subsections (b) and (e) of the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to provide for the elimination of the run-off elections for Mayor and President of Council, and create a nonpartisan primary election to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in May for the offices of Mayor and President of Council, in the event that there are three (3) or more candidates that have filed petitions for either office?
What does Issue #49 Do?
- Amend Article XVII, Subsection (b) and to repeal Article XVII, subsection (e) regarding the current method of using a Runoff Election, replacing that section with a new Subsection (e) requiring a spring primary election in the event that more than two candidates file for the offices of Mayor and/or President of Council.
- In 2008, North Royalton voters approved the run-off charter amendment, which is currently used, by a margin of more than two to one. The amendment changed the charter, allowing for a run-off election for the office of Mayor and/or President of Council when there are more than two candidates, but none receive at least 40% of the total votes. If that situation occurs, then a run-off election takes place on the first Tuesday in December of the top two candidates. The run-off election would only take place under that scenario.
- The proposed charter amendment would require that the city hold a spring primary every time there are more than two candidates for the Mayoral or Council President race.
- According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections if this charter amendment is approved. A Spring Primary Election would cost North Royalton taxpayers over $75,000.
Reason why you should vote NO on Issue #49
- According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections if this issue was past the cost of a Special May Primary Election for Mayor and Council President would waste North Royalton taxpayers over $75,000.
- The current system approved by voters back in 2008 by over 70% works. We have been able to select our mayor and council president without issue. If it is not broken. Then don’t mess with it.
- This charter amendment was not put on the ballot by the City Charter Review Commission but is being pushed by a select few on city council. Click Here to see who approved it.
- As a former Chairman of the 2012 Charter Review Commission, this was not an issue then and has not been the last few after.
- If this charter amendment is approved it would allow for some members on council currently to run from a safe seat for Council President and Mayor. Then if said members are unsuccessful in such a possible scenario, they still be able to run in the November General Election to retain their seats. Click Here to learn more.
- In another possible scenario if the incumbent Mayor and Council President lose in a Special May Primary. It would then create a situation of a Lame Duck Mayor and or Council President for seven months. Which the current city charter does not allow and past City Charter Review Commissions have worked hard to prevent happening because of concerns it would not be productive to the overall operations of the local government.
- If approved Issue #49 will create longer campaign seasons in our city going from Winter to the Fall or longer.
- The North Royalton Board of Education only has a November General Election and residents are able to select a winner in those races at a larger district level without issue or need of a Primary Election.
- The last decade or more North Royalton has NEVER been any need for a Spring Primary for the Mayor or Council President.
Letters to the Editor Against Issue #49
Date: May 23, 2021
Source: Cleveland.com
North Royalton mayoral primary would be a waste of money
On May 18, 2021, North Royalton City Council, in a 5-2 vote, approved Ordinance 21-81. This charter amendment would be on the Nov. 2, 2021, General Election ballot and would change the way our mayor and council president are elected in North Royalton.
If this new charter amendment is approved, it would add a special May primary election, with only the top two vote-getters for mayor and council president moving on to the November ballot.
A primary election would waste at least $40,000 to $100,000 or more of our taxpayer dollars just to pay for a special election.
This charter amendment only benefits the five individuals on council who voted for it and have higher ambitions as we get closer to the 2023 mayoral and council president elections. This will allow them to run from a safe seat for mayor or council president in future elections.
This charter amendment is fiscally irresponsible, confusing and self-serving. The money wasted on this proposed primary could be better used to fix our roads, stormwater issues, aid our struggling small businesses or provide more resources to our seniors.
I urge residents to vote NO on this charter amendment come Nov. 2.
Dan Langshaw
Date: October 7, 2021
Source: Royalton Recorder
I hope you will join me in voting NO on Issue 49
Issue 49 is an unnecessary, rushed, and ill-advised change that could lead to voter confusion and a lack of trust in our Elections! As far as I can research, North Royalton has NEVER had a Spring Primary for The Mayor or Council President.
According to the Board of Elections, Issue 49 could cost North Royalton taxpayers at least $40,000 on an unnecessary Primary Election. It is financially irresponsible to spend your tax dollars in this way.
In addition, Issue 49 will create longer campaign cycles, stretching from Winter to the Fall.
Campaign signs could be up for nearly a year! Am I the only one who feels like campaigning never ends!
Our current election system was created in 2008 by residents and approved by over 70% of voters. The current system works!
In November 2019, North Royalton residents did their homework! They investigated the 5 candidates, gathered information, and spoke with a clear voice, electing Mayor Antoskiewicz with over 51% of the vote!
Making the campaign season longer and adding costs simply doesn’t make sense in North Royalton. Further, Spring Primaries often have lower turnout and therefore less participation than Fall Elections.
We do local elections in the Fall, after having spent all Spring and Summer getting to know the candidates.
Issue 49 doesn’t make sense, costs taxpayers more money, and solves a problem that doesn’t exist.
Please join me in doing the financially responsible and common-sense thing and Vote NO on Issue 49.
Paul F. Marnecheck
Council President
City of North Royalton
Date: October 12, 2021
Source: North Royalton Post Newspaper
Vote No on Issue 49, a waste of tax dollars
To the Editor: There are some important charter amendments that North Royalton voters need to do their due diligence on before casting their vote.
Especially on Issue 49. I agree with Council President Marnecheck’s Oct. 7 letter against this charter amendment. This is something for the good of the city. We both can easily agree that a special May primary election for mayor and council president is an unnecessary waste of over $40,000 or more of our taxpayer dollars. This charter amendment is just so some on council could run from a safe seat for these positions.
Do you really want longer campaign seasons or make our community more political just for the benefit of the five members of council that are pushing this charter amendment?
As a former chairman of the 2012 Charter Review Commission, this was not an issue then and has not been the last few after. The current system approved by voters back in 2008 by over 70% works. We have been able to select our mayor and council president without issue. Also for example as a former school board member, I have run in a large field of candidates. Voters were able to select a winner in those races at a larger district level without issue from my experience.
Issue 49 is fiscally irresponsible, unnecessary and self-serving political power grab. The money wasted on this proposed primary could be better used to fix our roads, stormwater issues, aid our struggling small businesses or provide more resources to our seniors.
Vote no on Issue 49, tell city council we need less politics, not more in our city, and stop wasting our taxpayer dollars.
Dan Langshaw
North Royalton
May 18, 2021 Public Comments Against Ordinance 21-81 (Issue #49) by resident Michael McDonald
Source: May 18, 2021 Regular North Royalton City Council Meeting Minutes
Mr. McDonald stated he is here to lobby for all of Council’s votes, to not vote for this Ordinance. He believes it is a very bad Ordinance. There was no consensus at the Committee meeting; between the discussions he had heard, us residents have an opportunity to permit in those committee meetings if we so chose to. We also have an opportunity to stand here in front of Council on any legislation that we don’t like; not trying to bully anyone. The reasons are quite
simple; first off, this last general election demonstrated that there is no need to have a Primary election. 2 candidates emerged with a substantial majority of all of the votes. Secondly, what citizens really want to go and vote in an odd year Primary where there are only 2 things to vote for on the ballot. You are not going to get a great turnout and even vote in the Primary election in the even year for Presidential here. So why have a special Primary election? Most importantly it
is a waste of our tax payer dollars; do you really want to waste our tax payer dollars by having a special election every four years? An election that is going to cost a minimum of $30k or maybe up to $100k. Multiply those times how long the average citizen has lived in the City; 20 years? Multiply those times 5 and you are looking at some substantial dollars that could be used to benefit the City in a much better way. This appears to be a potential scheme that those candidates that
run and don’t finish in the top 2 theoretically run for a Ward Council seat, and I don’t think anyone should be allowed or permitted to run twice for basically the same election.
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