Please fight these Excessive,Arbitrary,Increase of Filing Fees from $50.00 to $250.00 to Run for Office www.taxthemax.blogspot.com www.justalandlord.com
January 5, 2011
TO: Members of the Saint Paul Charter Commission
FROM: Joseph Mansky
Ramsey County Elections Manager
SUBJECT: PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS TO IMPLEMENT RANKED VOTING IN CITY ELECTIONS
The 2011 city general election will be the first election in which voters will choose candidates based on the ranked voting method. Although the charter amendment authorizing this voting method was approved in 2009, a few additional changes are desirable in order to implement the new voting method in an efficient and effective fashion.
1. Candidate filing period
In 2009, Congress enacted the Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment (MOVE) Act, which extended the period of time for mailing absentee ballots to voters serving in the armed forces or residing overseas from 30 to 45 days. Accordingly, the legislature changed the filing dates for candidates to provide adequate time for the preparati
2. Candidate filing fee
The candidate filing fee for mayor and council member has not been changed since 1972, when all council members were elected at large. Given the new costs to be incurred in the administration of the runoff phase of city elections, it may be worthwhile to raise the fees paid by candidates to gain a place on the general election ballot. These fees could be used to help defray the costs of the runoff. The filing fee is currently $50 for both mayor and council member. If adjusted for inflation over the past 38 years, the currently value of that amount is approximately $262. Accordingly, a filing fee of $250 for candidates for council member and $500 for candidates for mayor may be appropriate. Proposed language to amend the charter appears below.
7.04. Name on primary ballot.
Each person desiring to have his or her name placed on the primary ballot for councilmember shall state in the affidavit of candidacy the district for which he or she is a candidate. The filing fee for the office of mayor is $500. The filing fee for the office of councilmember is $250. Filing fees must be used for the administration of the city general election and any runoff that is required.
Please let me know if you have any questions about either of these proposals.
cc: Shari Moore
Jerry Hendrickson
on of absentee ballots. Minn. Stat. § 205.13, subd. 1a now requires cities without a primary to open their filing period for candidates from 91 days to 77 days before the general election. The charter should be amended to reflect this change. Proposed language to amend the charter appears below.7.04. Name on primary ballot.
An affidavit of candidacy may be filed for the offices of mayor and councilmember not more than 91 days nor less than 77 days before the general election. Each person desiring to have his or her name placed on the primary ballot for councilmember shall state in the affidavit of candidacy the district for which he or she is a candidate.
