A charter amendment providing that council candidates in order to win must have a majority of votes cast or face a run-off will be on Arcadians' ballots in December 13 election, if there is an election.
Former mayor Jim Helms proposed a charter change that would require a runoff election if no candidate for City Council received at least 50 percent of the vote. In the last election, no candidate received 50 percent.
Two Charter amendments will be on the April 9th ballot: 1. Would increase from 2 to 3 the number of consecutive 4 year terms a Councilman may serve and change the residence requirement from 2 years to 1. 2. Provides for a municipal election in February with offices to be filled by those candidates who receive the highest number of votes. However, if no candidate receives at least 40% of the votes cast, a run-off election would be held in April.
Candidates discuss their positions on charter change at a forum presented by the Arcadia Republican Women's Club last week. The amendment will be on the April 10 ballot.
Plan to consolidate elections debated. City Council and Board of Education informally discussing consolidating their elections, would require charter change.
Arcadia will not be voting on whether to have combined school board/city council elections next April. On a 3-2 vote, the City Council turned down the idea.
City Council has decided to have Arcadia voters decide whether the sale and use of fireworks should be banned in the city. The issue will appear on the April ballot.
Tax reform candidates Jeff Dring and Richard Haltom won the two city council seats in the April 8 election. Dring received 3,750 votes while Haltom received 3,390. Of the 27,001 registered voters in the city, 9,074 voted (33.6%)
As required by election regulations, the candidates for the Arcadia City Council have filed statements showing contributions they have received and expenditures they have made.
It appears residents will have an opportunity to vote in June on whether the city should help the school district with its financial problems. They are trying to reduce the budget by $1.2 million.
A recommendation that would allow all registered voters in Arcadia to vote by mail is being considered by the Chamber of Commerce which may address the City Council on the matter. San Diego has conducted such an election. Article discusses problems and expenses of such an election.
According to the reapportionment plan passed Tuesday by the Democratic majority in the state legislature, the 26th district's boundaries have been changed. The newly created district still includes Arcadia.
By A 4-1 margin, the Arcadia Board of Education approved a resolution encouraging the City Council to put a proposal to combine city & school elections before Arcadia voters.