Let’s Pick a Mayor!

There will be an important decision made by our Village Council at the meeting on December 9th. Council will elect a new Mayor and Vice Mayor.

We are told that, in typical council fashion, the winners have already been decided. Don Horton will be elected Mayor and Anna Richards, Vice Mayor.  What a shock! Collusion!?

One source suggests the embroidered shirts have already been ordered.

Does it matter who the mayor is?  Haven’t we heard over and over that the position is purely “ceremonial”?  

Let me give you the facts: The Village Charter says the mayor and vice mayor “shall have the same legislative powers and duties as any other council member.”

In 2020, with three new members of council, the Village Attorney explained the jobs to the council and the public before the vote. He commented: “The roles of Mayor and Vice Mayor are ceremonial; both positions have the same duties as the rest of the Village Council; the Mayor is the head of the Village for purposes of signature duties, service of process and appearance at functions.”

We think there is something else rather important… the Mayor presides at Council meetings. We have witnessed a previous Mayor routinely concede more speaking time to his friends on issues he supported. Abuse of power?

The Village Charter and Village Code: Numerous mayoral powers are spelled out:

• Special Council meetings may be held at the call of the Mayor

• The Mayor and Vice Mayor are authorized signatories for the village's bank accounts.

• The Mayor appoints council members as committee liaisons.

• The Mayor, Vice Mayor, or in his/her absence the Manager, has the sole authority to declare a state of local emergency.

• At Quasi Judicial hearings the mayor shall keep order and may direct a party conducting the cross examination to stop a particular line of questioning

Village Council Meeting Procedures, approved by a majority vote of council, includes the word “mayor” 50 times. These are some examples:

• The Mayor shall decide on all questions of order.

• The Mayor may limit repetitive comments to ensure efficiency of the meeting.

• The Mayor shall preserve order and decorum at Council meetings.

• The Mayor shall have the right and the authority to require an unruly person to leave the Council Chambers

• The Mayor and Staff decide what items should be in the Consent Agenda, those are then without necessity for discussion. (We think the consent agenda has been abused for years to hide poor decisions and to hide major expenditures.)

• Meeting agenda items may be removed from the agenda by the Mayor, Village Manager or Village Clerk

These powers can have a profound effect if not judiciously executed.  We’ll be watching.

It is often mentioned that traditionally the person elected Vice Mayor becomes the Mayor the following year. But in fact it is not automatic. The Vice Mayor has been selected as Mayor in just two of the last four years. 

The Mayor is a position of trust within the community and should be treated as such.

In 2022, the council voted 4-1 to not allow public comment before the vote for Mayor. Why not? The council wanted to make a choice not popular with the public.

We know that between 2020 and 2024 one member of council was mayor three times.  After not being elected mayor a 4^th time, he resigned. His successor on council was selected by a majority vote of council. Not the residents. Not democratic.

Shouldn’t special elections be held to fill council vacancies as they arise, especially weeks after the November election?

Election of Mayor by Voters

We think the position of mayor is not simply ceremonial. It is important enough that the mayor should be elected by voters to a two-year term. The mayor, being selected by voters, has become increasingly popular in council-manager form of local government. Election of mayor by voters allows voters to have more direct input in the political process so they may review the qualifications of the candidates.

Being a business associate or relative of a sitting council member should not be a factor. Unfortunately, it is.

Eliminate SEAT #s

We also energetically support the top 5 vote getters being seated on the council.

Irrelevant seat numbers for council positions encourages seat switching at the last minute, encourages gamesmanship, and pits neighbors against neighbors, often with attacks by opponents running for the same seat.  

In conclusion, pay attention to the election process and know what power you are ceding to your representatives.

Changes in our election process is long overdue. Participate in the process and let your voice be heard.

It’s obvious, that elections have consequences.

Tom Raffanello