Combining council election with presidential vote will save money in Bedford

By: Justin Faulconer | Lynchburg News and Advance
Published: June 29, 2008

For the first time, Bedford voters will elect City Council members on the same November day they vote for president.

Also on the ballot will be the U.S. Senate race between former governors Mark Warner and Jim Gilmore, and a 5th District congressional race between incumbent Rep. Virgil Goode and Tom Perriello.

The other elections could result in Bedford council candidates receiving more votes than they normally would.

On the other hand, Councilman Robert Wandrei said, it may not make much difference since this year’s council races are unopposed. The early June deadline to file for seats has passed and his is safe.

But Wandrei does want to see more choice at the local level.

“There are a lot of people out there who could do the job and I really wish they would step forward,” even if it resulted in his own defeat, Wandrei said.

Wandrei, Mayor Skip Tharp and Jeff Hubbard are the other incumbents who won’t see challengers. Councilman Tom Padgett is stepping down; Steve Rush is running opposed for his seat.

Though council members don’t have much at stake due to lack of opposition, the city is saving money by holding a November election.

Council elections were held in May, prior to a 2005 vote that changed the date to November. The switch, Wandrei said, was to improve turnout while saving money.

The city saves from $3,500 to $4,500 by holding one election, said City Registrar Randi Herrick.

“For a city this size, that’s significant.”

The city, with a population of about 6,000, has seen 30 percent voter turnout in the last eight council elections.

Contested races for council seats have been few in recent years, Wandrei said.

The number of registered voters in the city jumped from just under 2,800 during the early 1990s to nearly 3,800 today.

More than half the city’s population is registered to vote. Close to 30 percent of that total turned out for the presidential primaries in February.

Lynchburg holds council elections in May.

Mayor Joan Foster said there have been talks in the last several years between council members on the pros and cons of holding council elections in November, but it has not been considered in depth.

The city spent roughly $22,000 in its election this past May, said Registrar Pat Bower. Voter turnout was 17 percent.

“We’ve had as low (turnout) as 12 percent,” Bower said. “It tends to be in the 15 to 25 percent range.”