Without committing themselves to a November vote, a May vote, or any vote at all on the issue of a change in form of government, the Ketchum City Council nonetheless expressed its desire for a special election on the issue.
Ketchum has a “strong mayor” form of government, in which the citizen-elected mayor is the city’s chief administrative officer. Under consideration is a council-manager form of government, in which the administrative head is a hired city manager.
Also being debated is when a vote on changing the form of government should occur. That question has become as controversial as the form-of-government issue itself.
The council voted 3-1 at its meeting Monday on a resolution stating its intent to hold a special election in May, with Nina Jonas voting against it.
“It’s an alternative to the highly disruptive and destabilizing effect (a vote) in November would have,” said Councilman Larry Helzel.
Under state law, the council cannot take action on a future election until after the filing deadline passes for the next regular election, which is the November election.
Full Article: Idaho Mountain Express: Council voices support for May special election – July 20, 2011.