A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY IN ALBEMARLE

According to the North Carolina School of Government, of all the 553 cities, towns and villages in North Carolina only 8 still hold expensive partisan elections. They are Charlotte, Winston Salem, Lincolnton, Sanford, Asheville, Kinston, Murphy and Albemarle.

For the City of Albemarle 2013-2014 fiscal year, $33,195 city taxpayer dollars was spent for the City of Albemarle September Primary Election and November General Election.

This year, the City budget projects the City elections to cost $52,800.

It’s time for the City of Albemarle to stop operating in the past and request either the North Carolina Legislature or the City voters to do away with the requirement to hold elections for Democratic and Republican September nominations which, also, carries the possibility of the expense of a runoff election in October.

The only purpose of the City Primary this year will be to determine the nomination for 2 contested races. The races are for one council seat in District 3 and two council seats “at large.” If this City primary is like primaries of the past only a small number of registered City voters will even vote.

Here is a recap of the past 3 September City of Albemarle Primary Elections; 573 total votes cast in 2009 with 1 contested race, 919 total votes cast in 2011 with 3 contested races and 1,385 total votes cast in 2013 with 4 contested races.

As of August 31st, 2015 total registered voters in the City of Albemarle is now down to 9,753. This total is made up of 4,248 democrats, 2,945 republicans, 2,533 that are unaffiliated and 27 libertarians.

This year, only democrat and unaffiliated voters are eligible to vote in the upcoming September City primary. That means, because we still hold partisan elections in Albemarle, 30% of the registered voters in the City of Albemarle won’t be eligible to vote on the Primary Candidates.

To me, it’s just backwards for Albemarle city taxpayers to go to the expense to nominate democrat and republican candidates in September to be on the General Election Ballot; when it can all be decided in November where ALL registered voters can decide who they’d like to serve the City.

That’s why, I think, partisan elections are a total waste of Albemarle City taxpayer dollars.

Besides the waste of City tax money for partisan elections; a partisan election make it very difficult for an unaffiliated candidate to be on the ballot for elective office; whereas, a non-partisan election allows all registered voters to easily be on the ballot.

Also, a partisan election requires you to vote only on the democratic or republican primary candidates; whereas, a non- partisan election allows all voters to choose from all the candidates that choose to run for every office.

And lastly, a partisan election means those unsightly political signs, (mine included) that seem to get larger and larger, begin to sprout up in July. In a non- partisan election it would probably mean seeing these signs along our roadways and intersections only close to the November general election.

After the last City of Albemarle election, I addressed the City Council on the waste of City taxpayer dollars and the lack of primary voter participation for partisan elections for Albemarle. The need to pursue a change on the issue still remains!

To save even more taxpayer money, I’d be in favor of City elections being moved to even years to coincide with the statewide and county elections instead of being separate elections during the odd years.

Early Voting for this City of Albemarle Primary Election continues weekdays through Friday, September 11th from 8:30am until 5:00pm at the Stanly County Commons, 1000 North First Street in Albemarle. Saturday Early Voting is from 8:30am until 1:00pm onSeptember 12th at the Commons.

In the at large Primary Election you may vote for 2 of the 4 candidates on the ballot.

I'd appreciate your vote for me to 1 of the 2 at large seats on the Albemarle City Council.

THANKS!!!
David Morgan

P.S. P.S. I'll be addressing other City issues before the Primary on September 15th. Please feel free to share this on your wall. If you would like to receive future emails like this from me directly, please message me with your email address. Thank you for the many comments on my last issues of recycling and needed growth. Please email me [email protected] or call me at 704/982-9337 with your comments on this or any other issue. I hope to earn your support!!