February 13, 2013

Hon. Representative Paul Davis

Room 359-West, Kansas Statehouse

300 S.W. 10^th Avenue

Topeka, KS  66612

Re:  Local Election Process Legislation

Dear Representative Davis:

The City of Lawrence is opposed to changing the local election process.  We understand current proposals in the Legislature focus on two areas: 1) changing city elections from the spring to the fall; and 2) making city elections partisan in nature.   Both ideas are poor public policy for a number of reasons. 

Currently, city elections are non-partisan.  Moving city elections to coincide with other partisan primaries and general elections will likely confuse the public and is inappropriate.  Moreover, such a change will diminish the focus and importance of local issues.  Local candidates and local ballot issues will be lost amid the constant media attention and expensive campaigns of state and national elections.   Combining elections will also add additional complexity and unneeded partisan rhetoric to local campaigns.  Finally, cost savings from such changes are estimated to be minimal and certainly not worth the drastic changes to a system our community has used with success for many years.

We urge you not to pass legislation changing city elections.  If you have further questions regarding the City’s position, please contact City Manager David Corliss at (785) 832-3400.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Schumm

Mayor

c:       City Commission

          David L. Corliss, City Manager