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In recent months, the talk already has turned to the 2010 elections, but qualifying begins today for this November’s municipal elections to fill local government positions across Northeast Georgia and the state. The qualifying period runs through Wednesday for most municipalities, but lasts until Friday in some areas. Often called "off-year" elections because they are held in odd-numbered years, municipal elections fill seats such as mayor, city or town councils and school boards. Ballots in those election years rarely contain national or statewide — or even countywide — races. The local government could look quite a bit different in Banks County after the Nov. 3 election, as the county will be electing new members of an expanded commission and one city will be electing an entire council. Last year, Banks County voters approved expanding from a three-person commission to a five-person commission, so two new members will be elected to the board in November. In addition, Homer not only will be electing a mayor, but all five city council seats are up for election. In November, voters in several municipalities around the region also will have ballot questions to consider, ranging from how officials are elected to sales taxes. Gainesville residents will vote on a nonbinding referendum asking their opinion about whether the mayor and school board chairman should be elected by voters instead of appointed by members of each board. Earlier this year, the Georgia legislature approved putting the measure on the ballot. Gainesville’s city council and school board have expressed some disagreement with the measure. White County voters will be asked whether to extend the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for education facilities for a five-year period, from 2013-2018, for the purpose of building a new middle school and updating other building infrastructure. The current SPLOST was approved to run from 2008 to 2013 and has averaged collections of about $3 million a year. Dawson County also is considering putting an education sales tax on the ballot, but the decision on that ballot question is expected to be made later this week. Not all municipalities will be waiting until November to hold elections. Commerce will be holding a special election in September to fill the unexpired term of J. Clark Hill III, who represented Ward 4. In November, Commerce also will be having the regular elections for Wards 1 and 2.
Aug. 30, 2009 11:16p.m. EDT
Election 2009 qualifying starts today
Edie Rogers
Gainesville Times
In recent months, the talk already has turned to the 2010 elections, but qualifying begins today for this November’s municipal elections to fill local government positions across Northeast Georgia and the state. The qualifying period runs through Wednesday for most municipalities, but lasts until Friday in some areas. Often called "off-year" elections because they are held in odd-numbered years, municipal elections fill seats such as mayor, city or town councils and school boards. Ballots in those election years rarely contain national or statewide — or even countywide — races. The local government could look quite a bit different in Banks County after the Nov. 3 election, as the county will be electing new members of an expanded commission and one city will be electing an entire council. Last year, Banks County voters approved expanding from a three-person commission to a five-person commission, so two new members will be elected to the board in November. In addition, Homer not only will be electing a mayor, but all five city council seats are up for election. In November, voters in several municipalities around the region also will have ballot questions to consider, ranging from how officials are elected to sales taxes. Gainesville residents will vote on a nonbinding referendum asking their opinion about whether the mayor and school board chairman should be elected by voters instead of appointed by members of each board. Earlier this year, the Georgia legislature approved putting the measure on the ballot. Gainesville’s city council and school board have expressed some disagreement with the measure. White County voters will be asked whether to extend the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for education facilities for a five-year period, from 2013-2018, for the purpose of building a new middle school and updating other building infrastructure. The current SPLOST was approved to run from 2008 to 2013 and has averaged collections of about $3 million a year. Dawson County also is considering putting an education sales tax on the ballot, but the decision on that ballot question is expected to be made later this week. Not all municipalities will be waiting until November to hold elections. Commerce will be holding a special election in September to fill the unexpired term of J. Clark Hill III, who represented Ward 4. In November, Commerce also will be having the regular elections for Wards 1 and 2.
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