Farmington Council Seeks Terms

Farmington registered voters are being asked to approve staggered, fouryear terms for members of the Farmington City Council. The question will appear on the Nov. 4 mid-year General Election ballot.

In Farmington, the mayor, city clerk and city attorney serve four-year terms. Council members have two-year terms. Farmington has four wards with two council members representing each ward. Every two years, all city council positions are open for election and every four years, all city elected positions are open for election and on the ballot.

This year, 2014, is one of those years. The Nov. 4 ballot will include candidates running for city council, mayor, city clerk and city attorney.

City Council members approved an ordinance earlier this year to place the local question on the ballot.

If voters approve staggered, four-year terms, the changes would take effect with the November 2016 election.

In November 2016, aldermen elected to Position 1 in each ward would serve fouryear terms and aldermen elected to represent Position 2 in each ward would serve two-year terms. Then in November 2018, aldermen elected to represent Position 2 would serve fouryear terms, “thus resulting in staggered four (4) year terms,” the ordinance states.

Alderman Terry Yopp has served on the council eight years and on the Planning Commission for eight years. Yopp, who is not running for re-election, said he believes four-year, staggered terms will benefit the process and provide a continuity to city government.

With two-year terms, he said it seems like a person who is first elected to office just begins to learn the process and it is time to start all over again and run for re-election.

“I think it’s a distraction for the overall progress of what the council wants to do,” Yopp said.

With staggered terms, the council would change over time, eliminating the possibility that the council could change in one election, leaving the city without any experienced council members, Yopp said.

“Running the city is like running a good business,” Yopp said.

At the same time, he said he believes change on the council also is good.

“That’s why I am not running for re-election,” he said.