Round Rock is among 10 cities throughout Texas that are requesting the governor allow May city council elections to be held in August.
In a letter sent to Gov. Greg Abbott, Mayor Craig Morgan said there are “legitimate public health and safety and other important considerations” in holding city elections before the Nov. 3 general election.
Morgan cited in his request the possibility of the coronavirus spreading more rapidly in the fall and not amid warmer summer temperatures. A city news release notes statements made by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control, that the virus could be seasonal.
Morgan also noted that an August election date would allow newly elected council members to participate in fiscal year 2021 budget meetings in October.
In a legal memo, City Attorney Steve Sheets contends that the disaster declaration grants cities to choose an election date prior to Nov. 3.
Other cities making the same request to Abbott are Abilene, Addison, Allen, Anna, Big Spring, Cedar Park, Fairview, Haskell and the Town of Providence Village, according to a city news release.
The letter comes several weeks after the City Council postponed its May election due to the coronavirus pandemic. A disaster declaration made by Abbott allowed cities throughout Texas to postpone May elections to November.
During that meeting, Morgan said local elections are among the city’s most important rights, and that the city election would “get put down to the bottom of the ballot” in the Nov. 3 general elections.
Council Member Writ Baese agreed, saying that moving the election to Nov. 3 “would be the last option I would pursue.”
Council members Will Peckham is facing Frank Ortega, a real estate agent, in his rebid for Place 4. Tina Steiner, a teacher at Round Rock Opportunity Center, and Michelle Ly, who owns three downtown Round Rock bars, are vying for Council Member Tammy Young’s Place 1 seat. Young made an unsuccessful run for U.S. representative in the Democratic primary.
Morgan is running unopposed for his second term.
Credit: Source link
