The following article appeared in todays Augusta Chronicle and you can go online by clicking on the title above to read it, Please note that some Precincts are not voting in their usual location. The full list appears at the bottom of this article. As I have said before I prefer the present system but please vote your prefernce in the election on Tuesday.We are grateful to the Augusta Chronicle for publishing this informative article.
Voting change going to public
By Michelle Guffey
South Carolina Bureau
Sunday, September 07, 20081
AIKEN --- About 18,000 voters in the city of Aiken will have a chance Tuesday to determine whether the city should discard the two-party election system in favor of nonpartisan elections.
"The goal for those who would like to see this happen is there would be potentially more candidates that could run for election," City Manager Roger LeDuc said.
Local party leaders don't see it that way and are united in their opposition to changing the system.
"I haven't heard a good reason why we should change the system we have," said John Brecht, the chairman of the Aiken County Democratic Party. "I am very suspicious of the motivation behind it."
Dennis Saylor, the county's GOP chairman, agrees.
"I firmly believe it is a bad idea," he said. "I believe the city pushed it through for a vote, and I agree that the people should have a say, but I believe they had a choice to start with."
Stuart Bedenbaugh, the county's voter registration and elections director, said he isn't expecting strong turnout Tuesday.
The city's election system mirrors the national system, in which primaries are held and party winners face off in a general election. If voters change the system, no one running for city office would be required to declare a party affiliation, eliminating the need for primaries.
"There are some people who don't feel they are Republican or Democrat and may not run because of that," Mr. LeDuc said, and it's difficult for someone wanting to run as an independent to get on the ballot.
Independent candidates must collect signatures from 5 percent of the registered voters in their district. With a nonpartisan system, candidates wouldn't need to obtain signatures.
Mr. LeDuc said Aiken is one of only six cities in the state that still hold partisan elections.
Mr. Brecht said that isn't a good enough reason to change the system.
The referendum is an attempt at "corporatization of city government," he said.
Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.
POLLING PLACES BY PRECINCT
AIKEN 1: City Auditorium
AIKEN 2: American Legion Post 212
AIKEN 3: Aiken High annex
AIKEN 4: Smith Hazel Recreation Center
AIKEN 5: Smith Hall, St. Mary's Help of Christian Church
AIKEN 6: Odell Weeks Center
COLLEGE ACRES 13: South Aiken Church of God
GRANITEVILLE 16: Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
MILLBROOK 20: Aiken Elementary School
MONTMORENCI 22: Montmorenci Fire Department
SIX POINTS 35: Kalmia Mall
SIX POINTS 46: Pinecrest School
AIKEN 47: Odell Weeks Center
LEVELS 52: Kennedy Middle School
HOLLOW CREEK 53: Knights of Columbus
GEM LAKES 60: Town Creek Baptist Church
HITCHCOCK 66: St. Paul's Lutheran Church
ANDERSON POND 69: Eden Gardens
SANDSTONE 70: Knights of Columbus
LEVELS 72: Levels Baptist Church
Dear Friends,
ReplyDeleteVoters in the City of Aiken will go to the polls on Tuesday to determine whether or not the city elections will become non-partisan. We think its a bad idea - please see the letters to the Aiken Standard that we wrote and which were both published over the last few days.
There has been little "buzz" over this issue - no mailouts, no signs, little coverage in the paper. Therefore, voter participation will likely be low. We urge you to vote "no" on Tuesday. Your individual vote will be very powerful in deciding the issue assuming low voter turnout. Also, attached at the bottom is a list of polling places for this city election.
Sincerely,
Gary & Michele Bunker
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Dear Editor,
I remain skeptical of the proposed benefits of making City of Aiken elections non-partisan. Given the upcoming referendum on this topic, and the relative lack of interest that Ive seen so far, more discussion appears to be in order.
First, local experience shows that non-partisan city councils dont run cities any better than partisan councils. Two well run cities, Aiken and North Augusta, have partisan city councils. Augusta, on the other hand, is thoroughly non-partisan. In which would you rather reside? The quality of the local leadership and the expectations of the community towards their elected officials are far more important than the partisan nature of a city council.
Second, if Aiken became non-partisan, parties would still remain they just wouldnt be the Democrats and Republicans. Political action by its very nature requires organization. Without the established parties, other groupings would take the lead: ideological (smart growth vs.
developers), racial or ethnic, neighborhood-based, or even religious.
The fuss and fury of local politics would remain, but would it be more progressive simply because it was non-partisan?
Third, while there is a valid complaint that the two major parties dont adequately represent all voters, the answer doesnt lie in abolishing all parties. The better solution would be to encourage a greater diversity of partisan representation. Ballot access for small local parties and true independents should be made easier.
With so many concerns regarding this referendum, the prudent course is to vote no.
Sincerely,
Gary Bunker
Aiken, SC
I feel that supporting the non-partisan system of Aiken City government would be a sign of surrendering our Republican values.
ReplyDeletePLEASE VOTE and vote on Tuesday against the change.
Eldon Bullington