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Hiawatha Commission Opposes Moving Elections

By Greg Bebermeyer

02/26/2014

(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission has gone on record in their opposition to legislation that would move municipal elections to the fall and make them partisan.

The commission during a special meeting Monday evening adopted a resolution opposing bills that have been introduced in the Kansas House and Senate that would move city and school elections to the fall of either odd or even-numbered years. The Senate bill would also convert them to partisan elections, requiring city candidates to run as a member of a political party.

The resolution says the city feels the legislation would unnecessarily interfere with local elections.

City Administrator Mike Nichols says the League of Kansas Municipalities requested the city’s support in opposition to the legislation, being pushed by the Kansas Republican Party.

Kansas currently has its city and school board elections in the spring of odd-numbered years, and turnout is typically low. State GOP Chairman Kelly Arnold said moving the elections would boost turnout.

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