Fairhope, Alabama
RESCINDED TOO LATE?
After hearing the mayor say he preferred for the election to go on as planned, but he understood why a 2 week delay may be necessary, the council voted 3-2 Monday evening to postpone the municipal election until Sept. 11th. Ford and Kingrea voted no: They had argued for a lesser delay at a meeting earlier in the day.
(Publisher's Note: Kingrea issued a statement Tuesday morning clarifying his position: "After having some time to cool off and to learn about the state law requiring elections be held either on the 2nd )or 4th Tuesday of the month; although I preferred the election be held today or on Thursday, the majority of the Council felt otherwise and I am onboard with their decision.")
Kant: "I would have preferred to have the election go ahead ... but understand some of the concerns ... people were confused if we were or weren't having the election ... ."
Kant said he had recently discovered elections could only be held only on the second and fourth Tuesday's of the month -- and he had been in contact with Senator Sessions and Congressman Bonner concerning federal procedures for delaying them. He said they were trying to streamline the procedure for all the local cities delaying them because of the storm.
In response to a question from a citizen (reportedly a relation of former Mayor Jim Nix) , council member Quinn cited the Governor's evacuation order beginning at 8AM Monday as the main problem.
Quinn: "... a lot of people had left town ... because it was mandatory ... by the Governor ... we just don't know what's going to happen with the weather ... I'd rather err on the side of safety ... and the ability for all people to vote in 2 weeks ... than (having) people out of town ... then claiming their vote was taken away from them ... ."
Councilman Mixon agreed: "... the evacuation notice was in place ... it isn't quite right ... for the governor telling people to leave town ... they leave town ... and we have the election anyway ... so they don't get to vote ... that's what its all about ... the governor had a mandatory evacuation in place ... ."
Councilman Stankoski worried about disenfranchising voters as well: He had talked to someone who was leaving Saturday; and the election should be delayed "in order to insure everyone has an opportunity (to vote)."
Stankoski added the 2 week delay will allow those who may not be in town then (on the 11th) time to cast absentee ballots.
After the citizen said she thought "the people of this town desire to have this election over with," Quinn and Stankoski enthusiastically concurred, expressing their desire to have it over with as well.
Quinn: "You're not the only one!"
Stankoski: "You're barking up the wrong tree on that!"
EVACUATION ORDER PREMATURE?
After the meeting Mixon and Kingrea told the Times they thought the Governor issued the evacuation order too soon (effective at 8AM Monday): he should have waited until the path of the storm was better established.
Councilman Ford had also criticized the Governor's decision at a meeting earlier in the day: especially regarding Thomas Hospital (its in the evacuation zone). Quinn said later she also thought the order was premature, but thought the Governor had done the best he could considering the circumstances.
Kingrea said the Governor compounded his error by waiting too long to "correct his mistake": only rescinding the order late in the day Monday (2PM).
Councilman Stankoski also issued a statement later today:
No one was more anxious to have this election over than I was !! In addition to sign "removals" and sign-waving Cheerleader Car Washers, I was begining to be embarrassed because it was becoming a process not in the "Fairhope Tradition". Once Governor Bentley declared a mandatory evacuation, (which he recalled too late) voting citizens began to leave the city. In order to avoid bad weather, disenfranchise voters, and avoid possible litigation I voted to postpone the election until September 11, 2012. You may apply for absentee ballots if you are not going to be in town this date. Please vote on September 11, 2012.
RESCINDED TOO LATE?
After hearing the mayor say he preferred for the election to go on as planned, but he understood why a 2 week delay may be necessary, the council voted 3-2 Monday evening to postpone the municipal election until Sept. 11th. Ford and Kingrea voted no: They had argued for a lesser delay at a meeting earlier in the day.
(Publisher's Note: Kingrea issued a statement Tuesday morning clarifying his position: "After having some time to cool off and to learn about the state law requiring elections be held either on the 2nd )or 4th Tuesday of the month; although I preferred the election be held today or on Thursday, the majority of the Council felt otherwise and I am onboard with their decision.")
Kant: "I would have preferred to have the election go ahead ... but understand some of the concerns ... people were confused if we were or weren't having the election ... ."
Kant said he had recently discovered elections could only be held only on the second and fourth Tuesday's of the month -- and he had been in contact with Senator Sessions and Congressman Bonner concerning federal procedures for delaying them. He said they were trying to streamline the procedure for all the local cities delaying them because of the storm.
In response to a question from a citizen (reportedly a relation of former Mayor Jim Nix) , council member Quinn cited the Governor's evacuation order beginning at 8AM Monday as the main problem.
Quinn: "... a lot of people had left town ... because it was mandatory ... by the Governor ... we just don't know what's going to happen with the weather ... I'd rather err on the side of safety ... and the ability for all people to vote in 2 weeks ... than (having) people out of town ... then claiming their vote was taken away from them ... ."
Councilman Mixon agreed: "... the evacuation notice was in place ... it isn't quite right ... for the governor telling people to leave town ... they leave town ... and we have the election anyway ... so they don't get to vote ... that's what its all about ... the governor had a mandatory evacuation in place ... ."
Councilman Stankoski worried about disenfranchising voters as well: He had talked to someone who was leaving Saturday; and the election should be delayed "in order to insure everyone has an opportunity (to vote)."
Stankoski added the 2 week delay will allow those who may not be in town then (on the 11th) time to cast absentee ballots.
After the citizen said she thought "the people of this town desire to have this election over with," Quinn and Stankoski enthusiastically concurred, expressing their desire to have it over with as well.
Quinn: "You're not the only one!"
Stankoski: "You're barking up the wrong tree on that!"
EVACUATION ORDER PREMATURE?
After the meeting Mixon and Kingrea told the Times they thought the Governor issued the evacuation order too soon (effective at 8AM Monday): he should have waited until the path of the storm was better established.
Councilman Ford had also criticized the Governor's decision at a meeting earlier in the day: especially regarding Thomas Hospital (its in the evacuation zone). Quinn said later she also thought the order was premature, but thought the Governor had done the best he could considering the circumstances.
Kingrea said the Governor compounded his error by waiting too long to "correct his mistake": only rescinding the order late in the day Monday (2PM).
Councilman Stankoski also issued a statement later today:
No one was more anxious to have this election over than I was !! In addition to sign "removals" and sign-waving Cheerleader Car Washers, I was begining to be embarrassed because it was becoming a process not in the "Fairhope Tradition". Once Governor Bentley declared a mandatory evacuation, (which he recalled too late) voting citizens began to leave the city. In order to avoid bad weather, disenfranchise voters, and avoid possible litigation I voted to postpone the election until September 11, 2012. You may apply for absentee ballots if you are not going to be in town this date. Please vote on September 11, 2012.