Column by Brian Kirwin, The Virginian-Pilot - 7/31/2006

Is local government closest to the people? Or maybe the question should be, “Is local government close to enough people?”

That’s the core of the discussion as cities consider holding local elections in November instead of May. Virginia Beach recently joined several localities in moving City Council and School Board elections to November. Held in even-number years, they’ll join races for president, the U.S. House and Senate.

When government derives its power from the consent of the people, having as many of the people involved is vital to good government. May elections, perhaps by design, have minimized that involvement to pathetically low levels.

Dismal voter participation in May stretches across South Hampton Roads and is remarkably uniform. This year, for example, the turnout was: Norfolk, 18 percent; Chesapeake, 17 percent; Portsmouth, 20 percent; Suffolk, 23 percent; Virginia Beach, 17 percent.

Compare that with the last evenyear November elections, the presidential voting in 2004, according to the State Board of Elections: Norfolk, 65 percent; Chesapeake, 73 percent; Portsmouth, 67 percent; Suffolk, 70 percent; and Virginia Beach, 67 percent.

This is a regional issue. Despite several outreach efforts, increased advertising and candidate spending, May turnout is low. It’s important for the region, from civic leagues to business groups, political parties to friends and neighbors, to discuss moving local elections to November.

Several interest groups have argued that May elections are better for candidates, but electoral change should be focused on what’s better for citizens. Politicians’ comfort is low on my list of priorities, and citizens gain several real benefits by this simple change of the election schedule:

• Real budget accountability. There’s something seriously wrong when candidates campaign on real estate taxes and budget issues and make those decisions after Election Day in May. Not only do those promises fade quickly afterward, but residents actually have tax and budget decisions made by council members just voted out of office.

A November election makes taxes and budgets more accountable. When city councils vote on those budgets in May, they’ll stand before the voters to defend their actions in the fall. Promises are replaced by results .

• Real campaigning. Low turnout for May elections is no secret and candidates know it. If 80 percent of registered voters are staying home, candidates will not spend time or money trying to reach them. Campaign activities, advertising and communications are focused on likely voters.

A November election is just the opposite. An overwhelming majority of voters are likely voters in November. No citizen can be ignored. Campaigns focused on a special interest fringe will be challenged to appeal to a broader constituency.

• Real representation. When elected officials know that 80 percent of voters will not show up for an election, they work hard to represent at least half of those who will. What kind of representation can you expect from someone whom 90 percent of registered voters didn’t choose? Can a city council honestly represent a city with the support of so few?

Those who enjoy small May elections may continue to use the failed arguments heard in Virginia Beach, like calling voters “uninformed” and saying that voting for president and city council at the same time is “confusing.” They fear that a presidential campaign across the entire nation will knock a City Council race right into oblivion. They shudder that politicians and political parties will get involved in elections, as if the numerous endorsements in this May’s elections didn’t really happen.

One thing is clear. It’s time for the conversation to begin. It’s time to look at how well city councils represent citizens, and whether increased accountability, outreach and representation makes for better government.

In the end, it is your government, and isn’t a government listening to 70 percent of you better than one that listens to only 17 percent?

Brian Kirwin is a political consultant with Rourk Public Relations in Virginia Beach. E-mail him at Brian@rourkpr.com.