After several months of study, a committee appointed by Alexandria Mayor William Euille has recommended against changing the city’s election cycle, dates or the City Council’s makeup.
Euille asked the group to consider moving local elections from May to November after he ran for re-election unopposed in May 2006. Not quite 20 percent of Alexandria’s registered voters returned him to his seat.
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Because turnout for November elections is much higher, at 40 percent to 80 percent of registered voters casting ballots, some residents suggested the move would increase local vote turnout, according to the task force report. Holding the local election in May costs $50,000 to $60,000.
The committee decided against moving the election because “consideration of local issues would suffer when joined at the November election with the federal and state candidates and issues,” according to its report. There were also concerns that local candidates would have trouble recruiting volunteers when competing with more candidates.
The committee also was asked to consider raising the City Council and school board members’ salaries and increasing the City Council’s staff. The committee recommended increasing each council member’s staff from one part-time legislative aide to a full-time aide.
They suggested increasing the mayor’s staff to one full-time and one part-time aide. Cost estimates are not available in the report, which notes they will be provided to council at its September meeting.
The committee deferred to the council and school board on
raising their salaries. School board members earn $15,000 annually, while council members receive $27,500.
The mayor, who said in February council pay lagged
behind other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, earns $30,500.
The committee also decided against decreasing the size of the nine-member school board, or switching the City Council from at-large seats to districts.
