Clarkston city elections will likely switch to every other year, and city council terms of office may be extended, depending on public comment and city council deliberations on Monday, Nov. 22.
The city council scheduled a public hearing to begin at 7 p.m. to discuss how the city should comply with a new state election consolidation law.
‘I don’t know how it’s going to affect us,? said City Manager Art Pappas in announcing the hearing at the Nov. 8 council meeting.
The city currently conducts annual elections, with a portion of the council up for reelection every year. According to city attorney Tom Ryan, the mandate will be for city elections to be conducted every other year.
The state law, designed to save taxpayer money and reduce voter confusion about election dates, limits all regular municipal and school elections to four specific dates, with the strongest recommendation being November. In addition, frequency of elections is limited depending on the unit of government.
Some variations are allowed, but only after a public hearing and a vote of the governing body.
City council members (including the mayor) currently serve a two-year term, but Ryan said a two-year election cycle makes it desirable to change to four-year council terms.
‘That will be my recommendation,? he said, but added, ‘That’s a council decision.?
The Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education has already voted to maintain their annual spring election (moving from June to the state-allowed May date). Township governments, meanwhile, appear to have the most stable election cycle, still following the state-mandated November election every four years.