Proposed election-date change draws ire in Falls Church

The Falls Church City Council on Monday will take up the issue of whether to hold municipal elections in November rather than May, a change embraced by a growing number of Virginia municipalities that has ignited sharp debate in the tiny Northern Virginia city.

The council gave preliminary approval to the measure Nov. 23 by a 4 to 3 vote. To change the 2010 election scheduled for May to November, the council would have to adopt the measure by majority vote at the Monday session to meet a deadline imposed by law. The council is also considering a proposal to further study the measure and schedule a referendum.

The proposal to hold autumn elections has sparked a controversy in the city of 11,000 people. Backers say the change would save money and boost voter participation. Opponents say moving the election date could shield the city's political leadership from voters' wrath as officials struggle with a nasty hole in the budget.

City Attorney John Foster estimated that the switch could save $18,000 every two years. Backers also say past election data offer proof that more people go to the polls during state and national elections.

But opponents fear that voters who cast ballots in national or state elections in November will be less familiar with close-to-home matters that could affect them. They also worry that fall elections will inevitably take on a partisan cast.

Sam Mabry, a former council member and vice mayor, said he thinks the interest in moving the elections to November coincides with the recent discovery of an unexpected $4 million gap in the city budget, which could force tax increases and service cuts.

In a Nov. 16 memo, the city's chief financial officer identified an estimated $7.7 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year on revenue of $59.4 million. The city's charter calls for the budget to be settled near the time some council members stand for election.

Mayor Robin S. Gardner rejected criticism that the proposal to change the voting date was motivated by a desire to put some distance between the budget deliberations and elections.

"I find it troubling that some people believe our citizens aren't going to remember how people handled the budget situation six months later," Gardner said.

Gardner said she thinks November elections would attract more voters and expand the base of people involved in city governance. Gardner, a Democrat, also disputed the idea that the November election cycle would heighten partisan emotions. She said opinions on matters of local government, such as zoning and taxes, are seldom shaped by party politics. "I've voted for Republicans in local elections," she said.

But council member Nader Baroukh likened the proposal to a power grab.

"It just doesn't smell good. There's a taint about it that doesn't sit well with me," Baroukh said. "This is something so fundamental for how we vote and when we vote, that this is not something that should be decided by council. It should be decided by referendum."

Mary Jo Fields, research director for the Virginia Municipal League, said that 15 of Virginia's 39 cities and 19 of its 180 towns hold their local elections in November. Several municipalities, including Alexandria, are in the process of changing.