MONROE — The City Of Monroe Common Council is eyeing a provision that would replace the current two-year term for members with a three-year term in office before once again facing voters.
The matter was on the agenda for the Monday, February 23 meeting of the city’s Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee.
It comes as election season looms locally, statewide, and nationally. The idea was initially floated by a council member who wanted to know if “It would be worthwhile,” and so officials began to investigate.
“The Alderperson term limits being considered are transitioning to three-year terms, so every year three Alders would be up for election each year to serve three-year terms,” said City Administrator Brittney Rindy. “The state statute for councils…is two years, but you can do a charter ordinance within your municipality that would allow you to set your own terms.”
Under the scenario, three members of the 9-person council would be elected every 3 years, serving three-year terms. Currently, council members serve two-year, overlapping terms.
“I like the idea where you don’t have as many new ones at the same time,” said Ald. Tom Miller, who is running for mayor.
Indeed, the main benefit, according to Rindy, is the potential for “continuity and less turnover” in city leadership — a nod to the learning curve for newly elected officials, she said.
“You could have five new alders and a (new Mayor),” said Rindy.
The city used the same legal guidance when it switched from designated wards to at-large representation from council members, she said.
In a related matter, the committee also discussed the process for spring primaries in the city when there are three or more candidates for office and state, county, or other local primaries.
“They are considering enacting the ordinance that a city primary would be held if there are four or more candidates running for Mayor, and more than double the number of Alders running for the number of open seats,” said Rindy, via email. “This would eliminate the need to have a special meeting within three days of the nomination papers being due to decide if a city primary will be held if those scenarios are met, and no primary is needed at the State or County level.”
But the primary issue might not have that much impact, as there are seldom a large number of candidates for city office at any given time, and typically there are other contested state or county races on the ballot.
And crucially, February primaries also have the lowest turnout, officials agreed.
“When was the last time we had three or more candidates?” asked committee member Dylan McGuire, at the Feb. 23 meeting.
For her part, Ald. Heidi Treuthardt said she supported the idea of codifying the ordinance for future elections to have a primary if there are four candidates for mayor.
“I’m fine with three candidates for mayor, I’m fine if it’s like four candidates or more,” as a threshold for a primary, she said.
Miller, Kevin Lollock and current Ald. Corinne Wartenweiler are on the April 7 ballot for mayor. Two-term Mayor Donna Douglas is not seeking reelection.
City attorney Dan Bartholf and Rindy said they would draft an ordinance on the issue for consideration by the full Common Council at an upcoming meeting.