It was less the number of signatures and more that this is the very first election for a new system of government, it drew out a TON of people.
Previously, we had a mayor and 5 city councilmen. Each elected city wide in a typical first past the post election.
Now we have a mayor elected citywide in a ranked choice, choose 6 election, who hires a city manager to run the different bureaus.
Then the city is split into 4 districts, each electing 3 councilmen in a rank 6 ballot.
So the city council is going from 5 to 12 and each district is guaranteed representation where often not only was it not guaranteed, there WAS no representation.
All in all, between the mayor and the council seats, 119 people were running.
If it’s really just a matter of too many candidates, could they increase the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot?
It was less the number of signatures and more that this is the very first election for a new system of government, it drew out a TON of people.
Previously, we had a mayor and 5 city councilmen. Each elected city wide in a typical first past the post election.
Now we have a mayor elected citywide in a ranked choice, choose 6 election, who hires a city manager to run the different bureaus.
Then the city is split into 4 districts, each electing 3 councilmen in a rank 6 ballot.
So the city council is going from 5 to 12 and each district is guaranteed representation where often not only was it not guaranteed, there WAS no representation.
All in all, between the mayor and the council seats, 119 people were running.