Agenda - Council - 01/14/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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certain number of candidates were running, but that option was problematic due to the filing deadlines. He stated that there has been a deterioration in interest in running for public office. He stated that because people are not showing up for the primaries, the consensus was to eliminate that requirement. Councilmember Musgrove referenced the situation where a primary could be be held with the general election primary. Charter Commission Chairperson Field commented that there was less resistance to that because it would not have much of an additional cost. Councilmember Musgrove stated that it seems that the Charter Commission recommended elimination of primary elections for city government elections. Charter Commission Chairperson Field agreed that because the trend has been that people are not showing up for those primary elections, it would seem practical to eliminate that requirement. Councilmember Kuzma stated that the changes seem to be mostly cost driven. He stated that the number of special elections in the past few years seem to be an anomaly. He stated that he likes the process of holding primaries. He stated that poor voter turnout is not the fault of the process and would not be in favor of eliminating that step. Mayor LeTourneau stated that the reality of the last two special elections had a higher percentage of turnout than the City typically has for special elections. He recognized that special elections typically have an inherently low voter turnout. Councilmember Specht asked the cost to hold a primary election. Administrative Services Director Lasher estimated about $25,000 for an at large seat while a ward seat would be about $10,000. Councilmember Menth asked if the Charter discussed right choice voting. Charter Commission Chairperson Fields noted that was determined to be a separate discussion that the Commission will discuss in the future. Councilmember Musgrove asked how many Charter cities choose to hold primary elections and how many do not. Charter Commission Chairperson Fields stated that most Charter cities do not engage in primary elections. Councilmember Riley stated that the Charter Commission was provided the detailed information, while the Council did not hear the same details. He stated that in regard to primaries it seems that the City would either need to choose to hold primaries or not hold them. He noted that if primaries are kept that seems to negate some of the work to streamline the process. City Council Work Session / December 10, 2019 Page 5 of 8