Pine Bluff City Council Weighs Mayoral Election Controversy
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 4, 2012
There is new controversy in Pine Bluff, as the debate continues whether population decline will push back the mayoral election set for this fall.
On Tuesday, city council members discussed Mayor Carl Redus' recent push to recognize a state law that says that cities with fewer than 50,000 people vote for mayor in between presidential elections, not the same year. If the population increases, then the elections match the presidential cycle.
But in the 2010 census, pine bluff dropped, slipping below the 50,000 mark.
"Our main concern is people did not get ample opportunity to know this existed before the mayor put it in the paper," said Rev. Jesse C. Turner with the group Interested Citizens for Voter Registration.
As of now, all 25 candidates are still on the ballot for November. The mayor and his opponents could file for legal injunction to change the process.
Related:
On Tuesday, city council members discussed Mayor Carl Redus' recent push to recognize a state law that says that cities with fewer than 50,000 people vote for mayor in between presidential elections, not the same year. If the population increases, then the elections match the presidential cycle.
But in the 2010 census, pine bluff dropped, slipping below the 50,000 mark.
"Our main concern is people did not get ample opportunity to know this existed before the mayor put it in the paper," said Rev. Jesse C. Turner with the group Interested Citizens for Voter Registration.
As of now, all 25 candidates are still on the ballot for November. The mayor and his opponents could file for legal injunction to change the process.
Related:
