County to question voters about staggered terms for commissioners

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Board members voted 4-1 during their last regular meeting Jan. 17 to include a referendum on the November ballot asking voters if they would be in favor of staggered terms for commissioners. Commissioner Franz Whitmire cast the single "nay" vote on the measure.

The question to be put to the voters would substantially be "Shall the structure of the board of commissioners be altered to provide that the members be elected for staggered four-year terms of office?" County attorney Raymond Large was instructed to secure clearance of the ballot question with the U.S. Department of Justice in accordance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

After making his motion to approve the referendum, Commissioner Stacy Buchanan cited several reasons staggered terms would be beneficial for Jackson County. Staggered terms, he said, would provide for continuity of government and operations by ensuring that experienced members are on the board at all times. Staggered terms would also allow for greater citizen voice into the conduct of county government by providing for more frequent input into the selection of policy makers, he said.

"I spent the first two years (of my term) just getting acclimatized and comfortable with making decision," said Buchanan, who was elected in 1998 and this week announced his intention to run for chairman of the board of commissioners.

Buchanan also pointed to the 86 North Carolina counties that elect their commissioners to staggered terms of office as majority support for the measure.

Though he admitted the question of staggered terms is "not a passionate issue" throughout the county, Buchanan said the idea has been raised by members of the public.

"I've been out different places, and people have asked me about the next election," he said. "I tell them we (the board of commissioner) are all up for election, and they ask why we are not elected on staggered terms like the school board and the (Sylva) town board."

Should the referendum be approved by the voters, Buchanan's plan calls for staggered terms to take affect in 2006. The top two voter-getters during the November 2006 General Election will be seated for four-year terms, while the remaining two members will be given two-year terms.

The two commissioners elected to two-year terms of office would run again in the 2008 election, this time for four-year seats on the board, said Buchanan.

The position of chairman of the board will not be included in the change, said Buchanan. The person elected to that position will continue to serve a four-year term, he said.

Though such a change in county government could be accomplished with a board resolution, Buchanan said he is in favor of allowing the citizens to voice their opinion through a referendum.

"This is the government of the people, and its their decision," he said. "I will support whatever the people vote to do."

"I like the idea of putting this before the voters," Commissioner Roberta Crawford said. "I am personally in favor of staggered terms, but I'd like to do what the people want to do."

Board Chairman Jay Denton and Commissioners Franz Whitmire and Conrad Burrell did not voice similar support for staggered terms.

"I don't know that staggered terms provide any of the things you mentioned," Denton told Buchanan. "And I don't want to do anything strictly for my own political preservation."

As to Buchanan's reason that 86 other North Carolina counties elected commissioners on staggered terms, Denton pointed out that Jackson County does not necessarily share the qualities that make such elections beneficial in those areas.

"We serve at the pleasure of the citizens of Jackson County," Denton said. "It's up to them to replace us if they are unhappy with our service - all of us if need be."

Denton continue by saying, "I am opposed to (staggered terms), but I'm not opposed to allowing the people to vote on it."

"I haven't talked to a single person who wants (staggered terms)," said Whitmire. "I'm satisfied with the government we have."

"Like I said before, if it's not broken, it doesn't need to be fixed," Burrell said. "But I don't have a problem with putting it on the ballot."

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