51 replies to this topic

[camay2327]

I think that there are 3 Folsom City Council members up for re-election in November.

Andy Morin (Vice Mayor)
Kerri Howell
Steve Miklos

Does anyone know if they are running for the City Council again in November?

[Robert Giacometti]

I think that there are 3 Folsom City Council members up for re-election in November.

Andy Morin (Vice Mayor)
Kerri Howell
Steve Miklos

Does anyone know if they are running for the City Council again in November?

I've heard from others that all 3 were planning on seeking reelection.

Serving on the council is really a thankless Job, so on one hand I do appreciate their willingness to serve. However, I do think its time for a change. Actually I've felt that way for the last 6 years, so this shouldn't be surprise to anyone on here.

I'd love to see term limits! Serving 2 terms on the city council is plenty of time for any one person. Also changing our system so that one has to get elected to the council with a 50% plus one vote.

I truly believe in my heart these 2 changes would bring about BETTER representation on the city council and MORE accountability to the residents.

We would all benefit from this!

[Chad Vander Veen]

I've heard from others that all 3 were planning on seeking reelection.

Serving on the council is really a thankless Job, so on one hand I do appreciate their willingness to serve. However, I do think its time for a change. Actually I've felt that way for the last 6 years, so this shouldn't be surprise to anyone on here.

I'd love to see term limits! Serving 2 terms on the city council is plenty of time for any one person. Also changing our system so that one has to get elected to the council with a 50% plus one vote.

I truly believe in my heart these 2 changes would bring about BETTER representation on the city council and MORE accountability to the residents.

We would all benefit from this!

Robert, I agree about term limits. How would concerned citizens go about enacting that?

[rlsliger]

I've heard from others that all 3 were planning on seeking reelection.

Serving on the council is really a thankless Job, so on one hand I do appreciate their willingness to serve. However, I do think its time for a change. Actually I've felt that way for the last 6 years, so this shouldn't be surprise to anyone on here.

I'd love to see term limits! Serving 2 terms on the city council is plenty of time for any one person. Also changing our system so that one has to get elected to the council with a 50% plus one vote.

I truly believe in my heart these 2 changes would bring about BETTER representation on the city council and MORE accountability to the residents.

We would all benefit from this!

Dumb question, how long is a term?

[Robert Giacometti]

Robert, I agree about term limits. How would concerned citizens go about enacting that?

The council could recommend this as a Charter amendment and put it to the vote for the residents to approve

The other way would be to have th citizens draft their own Charter Amendment circulating a petition to put it to a vote of the citizens.

It would truly be best to have the City Council do this so staff could draft the Charter Amendment, rather than residents.

I think the council may be receptive to doing this, if enough citizens asked them.

Dumb question, how long is a term?

4 years

[supermom]

I wouldn't mind being a city council member. I like the variety of issues they tend to.

[tgianco]

I think that there are 3 Folsom City Council members up for re-election in November.

Andy Morin (Vice Mayor)
Kerri Howell
Steve Miklos

Does anyone know if they are running for the City Council again in November?

In my best Dandy Don Meredith:

Turn out the lights
The Party's over.

Chad, you're still in election mode. Run for City Council and get these wanna-be's out.

[camay2327]

In my best Dandy Don Meredith:

Turn out the lights
The Party's over.

Chad, you're still in election mode. Run for City Council and get these wanna-be's out.

Good idea, Chad. What do you think?

[mylo]

Vote for Mylo!

[Robert Giacometti]

In my best Dandy Don Meredith:

Turn out the lights
The Party's over.

Chad, you're still in election mode. Run for City Council and get these wanna-be's out.

I'd support Chad if he ran, however he or anyone probably won't beat any incumbant if they run under our current open election system. The incumbants will get the support of the Unions, the Developers and the Chamber outspending any challenger at least 20 to 1, getting 20% of the vote and I don't see any challenger getting anywhere near 15%.

If a bunch of challengers run, this will only dilute the vote among those who want change, GUARANTEEING the incumbants get relected.

We have to change the system on how council members are elected, to neutralize the special interests.

What truly amazes me and dumbfounds me at the same time are those on this forum who intentionally look the other way, to support council members who collectively are making decisions that are detrimental to these very residents quality of life. I truly don't understand this dynamic.

This indicates to me that personality, party loyalty or some other factor is more important than the actual results of elected officials policies and votes. This also tells me politics is more about being an art, than being a science.

Its no wonder why we are facing so many challenging issues for Governments at all levels! Its our own doing!

[camay2327]

Robert, I think we brought this up during prior elections but what do you think. Three people running, get as many people as we can to vote for only one person, the new one that is running. Do not vote for 3 but just for 1.

If we can get enough people to do that, we could possible get a newbee in... We would have to try and get enough people to do it and make it happen.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Good idea, Chad. What do you think?

That's a tough one. As Robert said, it's a thankless job. Not to mention it would eat up a large percentage of family/free time. In a lot of ways being an Assemblyman would be easier since that is your job.

Like Assembly, I think before I ran for anything again I'd want to wait until my kid (or kids TBD) were older and more self-sufficient.

[Folsom2000]

I've heard from others that all 3 were planning on seeking reelection.

Serving on the council is really a thankless Job, so on one hand I do appreciate their willingness to serve. However, I do think its time for a change. Actually I've felt that way for the last 6 years, so this shouldn't be surprise to anyone on here.

I'd love to see term limits! Serving 2 terms on the city council is plenty of time for any one person. Also changing our system so that one has to get elected to the council with a 50% plus one vote.

I truly believe in my heart these 2 changes would bring about BETTER representation on the city council and MORE accountability to the residents.

We would all benefit from this!

I totally agree with this. I think a change is long overdue for Folsom City Council. We need new faces and fresh ideas to make Folsom an even better place to live!

[FolsomH2O]

There is term limits already, we just keep re-electing the same people.

[Robert Giacometti]

Robert, I think we brought this up during prior elections but what do you think. Three people running, get as many people as we can to vote for only one person, the new one that is running. Do not vote for 3 but just for 1.

If we can get enough people to do that, we could possible get a newbee in... We would have to try and get enough people to do it and make it happen.

This is about the only way to do this but you have to limit the field of candidates. Currently there is no mechanism to do that. We can't stop Sue Smith from running if she chooses.

Another option would be to get 3 to run as a slate, but then again other challengers would dilute the slate. The slate would never be able to raise the amount of funds the incumbants can, so they won't get their message out and loose.

The only real solution is to have a system where there is run off like Sacramento has, except I'm opposed to creating districts. I'd prefer to have numbered seats, so council members get elected by the whole community.

Another option is doing recall on the Council members next spring. Make them get 50% plus 1 vote to keep their seat.

My biggest complaint is NONE of the council members have been elected by a majority of the voters, so I just don't feel they collectively represent the will of the voters. The special interests have enough influence to effect the elections under this system.

My hunch is Kerrie and Ernie MIGHT be receptive to supporting some changes for the betterment of the community, although I wouldn't want to speaking on behalf of either of them. I did have a brief conversation with Andy and he expressed some willingness to listen to other options.

I think there is an opportunity to get 3 existing council members to bring about change to the system. We all benefit under a better system, no matter who you support!