The following article was published in the Aiken Standard today and also appears on the Aiken Standard website. Click on the title of this posting to read /or make a comment about the article online.
Politicians prefer partisan process
9/7/2008 11:10 PM
By MIKE GELLATLY
Staff writer
In Aiken, the Democrats and the GOP rarely come together, but the two stood at a podium Sunday to talk about a vote they both have a stake in.
On Tuesday, a local referendum will ask City of Aiken residents whether they want to switch from partisan elections to nonpartisan. Sunday, both major political parties stood together hoping to stop the change.
Aiken City Council members decided to let voters make the final decision on whether the City should do away with party-affiliated elections in February.
"This is one of those rare times we stand together in opposition," John Brecht, chairman of the Aiken County Democratic Party said. "We oppose any attempt to do away with partisan elections for City Council seats."
"Aiken has prospered under the two-party system because one party has always served to check the excesses of the other," Dennis Saylor, Aiken County Republican Party chair said. "Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or Independent, I urge you to oppose this misguided referendum and vote no."
The ordinance states an effort by City officials to encourage more citizens to participate in local government as one of the reasons for holding the election.
Both chairmen disagreed with this, claiming the opposite was in fact true, and that this change could also have a negative impact on voter turnout.
"For whatever reason, many voters cast along straight party lines," Brecht said. "This option would be eliminated and would discourage voter participation."
The question on the ballot will read: Shall the municipality of Aiken amend Chapter 14 of its city code to change its method of elections of members to City Council from partisan elections with a primary to a nonpartisan general election?
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