VIDEO: Marty Meserve’s Plea: Don’t Rush Election Change

December 26, 2009

Falls Church City Council will vote Jan. 11 on a final reading to move City elections from May to November.

During public comment time at Council’s previous meeting Dec. 14, Marty Meserve, formerly the City’s Vice Mayor, urged Council not to make a decision during the holiday season, pointing out that since the earliest date an election change would take effect is 2011, there is no compelling reason to rush a decision now.

In her comment, Meserve summarized the findings of a 2001 study by the Falls Church League of Women Voters on the pros and cons of moving local elections to November. Mayor Robin Gardner subsequently asked Meserve questions about the League’s study.

The League’s paper found that while moving the election to November could increase voter participation and save the cost of a separate City election, it would bring new members of the Council and School Board to office in the middle of budget cycles, and could result in more complex ballots and an end of the City’s nonpartisan elections.

To view Meserve’s remarks, and the Mayor’s questions about the study, click on the “start” triangle below.