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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.s. Resolution Supporting Cancellation of 1992 Presidential Primaryr 4 CITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 17, 1992 AGENDA ITEM:RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CANCELLATION AGENDA SECTION: CONSENT OF 1992 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PREPARED BY: SUSAN M. WALSH, CITY CLERK AGENDA NftEM # 4 ATTACHMENTS: RESOLUTION, ARTICLE AP OVE B v Attached for your consideration is a resolution which would indicate our City's support for cancelling the Presidential Primary currently scheduled for April 7, 1992. I have also attached for your review an article published in the November 22, 1992 League of Minnesota Cities "Cities Bulletin". The article details the growing support of cities and counties, Minnesota legislators, League of Women Voters and the Minnesota Association of County Officers urging state lawmakers to review the law passed in 1990 I have listed within the attached resolution reasons why our 1992 legislators should repeal this law. It would cast the City of Rosemount approximately $3,500 to run this election. Upon adoption of this resolution, I would forward copies to the City's legislative delegates. It is my understanding the Legislature would have to act on this law at their opening special session in January. RECOMMENDED ACTION: MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT CANCELLATION OF THE 1992 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND TO REPEAL THE PROVISIONS OF MINNESOTA STATUTE 207A. COUNCIL ACTION: CITY OF ROSEMOUNT DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 1991 A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT CANCELLATION OF THE 1992 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND TO: REPEAL THE PROVISIONS OFMINNESOTASTATUTE 207A WHEREAS# Minn. Stat. Ch. 207A provides for the conduct of a presidential primary to be held on the first Tuesday in April of each year in which a President and a Vice President of the United States are to be nominated and elected; and WHEREAS, the results of the presidential primary are not binding for delegate participation at the national convention of political parties appearing on the presidential primary ballot; and WHEREAS, the party caucus and convention system will be used to choose delegates to the national convention of political parties appearing on the presidential primary ballot, regardless of the results of the presidential primary and WHEREAS, all persons voting at the presidential primary must declare the political party for which they wish to vote for and such designation shall become a part of each permanent voter record in the statewide voter registration -system; and WHEREAS, the cost of holding the presidential primary must be borne by cities and counties at a time when these local governments are faced with the reduction of local government aid and levy limits. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Rosemount urges the 1992 State Legislature to repeal the provisions of Minn. Stat. Ch. 207A which provide for the presidential primary election. DATED this 17th day of December, 1991. Vernon J. Napper, Mayor ATTEST: Susan M. Walsh, City Clerk - Motion by: Second by: Voted by: Voted for: Voted against: Support grows to cancel 192 presidential primary Last week, local officials met with editors of both the Twin Cities news- papers to discuss concerns about the 1992 presidential primary. The League has urged lawmakers to review the current law which establishes the presidential candidate preference contest. Officials participating in the meeting were Karen Anderson, Councilmember, Minnetonka, and Judy Pattison, Big Stone County Auditor. Deborah Nankivell, Execu- tive Director of Common Cause, also attended. Karen Anderson is also a member of the Dyrstad Commission on State and Local Relations. Local officials who make up the membership of the commission have reiterated their concerns about the unfunded mandate for local govern- ment to conduct the primary. The commission has recommended that the Legislature either fund all the costs of the primary or repeal the law establish- ing it. On Monday, November 18, the St. Paul Pioneer Press published an editorial agreeing with many city concerns. Legislation calling for repeal of the law establishing the primary has been introduced in both the House and Senate. Sen. John Marty is the chief author of S.F. 1598; Rep. Harold Lasley is author of a companion measure in the House. Another lawmaker who has expressed interest in co -sponsoring the legislation is Rep. Virgil Johnson, who had previously requested that such legislation be drafted. Marty and Lasley both serve on elections committees in the Legislature. Among lawmakers who have voiced support for the measures are Sens. Don Samuelson, Betty Atkins, Jim Vickerman, and Dallas Sams. In the House, Reps. Hasskamp, Olson (Katy), Hugoson, Gutknecht, Boo, Ostrom, and Wenzel support cancel- ling the primary if either funding or voter privacy issues cannot be satis- fied. At the local level, many cities have adopted resolutions requesting the Legislature to cancel or at least postpone the primary. County and townships have joined with cities to urge immediate action on the issue when the Legislature meets in January to adopt a Congressional redistricting plan and to make corrections to the legislative redistricting plan adopted last May. Newspaper accounts have under- scored local opposition to require - meets for voters to disclose their political party ballot preference in order to cast a ballot for a presidential candidate of their choice. Last week, the state League of Women Voters indicated that although the organization supports the primary as a means of broadening voter participation in the selection of presidential candidates, board mem- bers are concerned about the failure of 1991 City Products and Services Guide The Statewide Directory of Goods and Services Saves you time and money when shopping for services or products. Use the Guide and watch it work for your city. For a copy call the League at 227-5600. the Legislature to fund local costs of conducting the primary. If lawmakers do not provide such funding, the state League of Women Voters has indicated that they will reassess their position. Common Cause has also found reason to criticize the primary and has indicated that voter cynicism is likely to increase as a result of procedures that require the disclosure of voter political party preferences on voter registration records that then become available for political fundraising and campaign organizing. Failure to protect voter privacy is also causing problems at the local level where many election judges have expressed outrage at the situation that is likely to occur at the polls when voters find out that they must indicate next to their name on the voter roster which political party ballot they prefer. Up until now voters have been able to determine their choice of political party candidates in the privacy of the voting booth. At meetings around the state this fall, the League encountered concerns about the prospect of conducting the primary at the local level. Those same concerns were voiced at meetings conducted by the Association of Minnesota Counties. At 7 out of 10 district meetings, resolutions were approved calling for the repeal of the presidential primary. The Minnesota Association of Townships reported that legislators attending their meetings strongly agreed with demands to repeal or at least postpone the primary until they can address the problems. Township, county, and city officials will meet within the next few days to adopt policies. It is anticipated that all three organizations will support measures calling for repeal of the law establishing the presidential primary. The Minnesota Association of County Officers, the organization representing county election officials and auditors, has already gone on record in opposi- tion to the current law. AH PaLye 6 Printed on recycled paper TAW Cities Bulletin