After over two hours of discussion Monday night, the only decision the College Station City Council made on changing election dates was to schedule another public hearing.
This was the council’s first attempt to address changes in state election laws brought on by new federal regulations.
A council consensus wanted voters to make the final decision. That may or may not require a change in the city charter, which is going to be researched. If the city charter has to be changed, that means a delay in considering other proposals under review by a citizen’s committee, which is opposed by a council majority.
The council could also run out of time according to federal and state laws and be required to hold municipal elections in November and continue three year terms. City Secretary Sherry Mashburn predicted the state legislature would force November municipal elections in the future.
The charter review committee recently voted in support of continuing May elections in odd-numbered years and lengthening council terms to four years.
At the end, the council decided to hold another public hearing on Monday, August 8th at 7 p.m. The council faces an August 12th deadline to submit ballot language for the November election.