Early Ballots Are Still Available For Holbrook Primary Election

Early voting started on Feb. 12 and will continue through March 6, after which time ballots must be cast on election day. Voters who want to participate in early voting, but who missed the deadline for receiving a ballot by mail can cast their vote in person at city hall through March 6.

To receive an early ballot by mail, contact city hall by calling 524-6225 or in person at 465 First Ave.

The seats up for election are those currently held by Vice Mayor Charles Haussman, Councilmen Bobby Tyler and Phil Cobb, and Mayor Jeff Hill. Only Tyler has decided to seek another term, this time as mayor. He is the sole candidate for the mayor’s seat.

Candidates for the three open seats on the council include David Newlin and C.J. Wischmann, and write-in candidates Tim Dixon, Earl Kester and Francie Payne. Write-in candidate Jeff Eavenson withdrew his name from consideration, citing a conflict with his employment.

The names of candidates Wischmann and Newlin will appear on the ballot since they filed regular nomination packets by the December deadline. The names of Dixon, Kester and Payne must be written in on the ballot in order to receive a vote since their nomination petitions were filed as write-in candidates.

City Clerk Cher Reyes noted that the names of write-in candidates will be posted at the polling place so that voters will have the correct complete list and proper spelling of the names of the candidates. Votes cast for write-in candidates must contain the full name as it appears on the list and the correct spelling, or the vote will not count.

A general election will only be held if the top three vote-getters receive less than 50 percent plus one of the total number of votes cast in the election. If necessary, the general election will be held in May.

Council members serve four-year terms, with elections held every two years for a portion of the council seats. The staggered elections allow for a certain amount of continuity in city government and avoids the possibility of creating an entirely new council every four years.

As part of the upcoming March election, voters will also consider the issue of “home rule.” This question will determine whether the city can exceed the state-imposed expenditure limit, which is calculated using a decades-old formula.

The state expenditure limit does not take into account actual revenue that the city receives. Under the limitation, the city can only spend a certain amount, even if revenues far exceed that amount, and regardless of the need for specific services and improvements.

Home rule allows a city to ask voters to set an expenditure limit based on anticipated revenues and expenditures. It eliminates the state requirement and allows cities to create a budget based on individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all formula.

“It would let us spend what we earn right now, and we can continue to operate as we are,” City Manager Ray Alley previously noted.

For the current fiscal year, the city had to ask voters to approve a one-time budget override. It is valid only for this year, and if it had not been approved the city could not spend as much as planned for street improvements.