Tucson Gets To Keep When It Votes But Oro Valley Doesn't

If Oro Valley were a "Charter City" then it could ignore many of the dictates the come down from the state capital.  It could ignore, for example, the dictate that all local elections be held at the same time that state and national elections are held.   A judge has ruled that  cities of Phoenix and Tucson, and probably all other charter cities, like Scottsdale, can hold their elections when they want.

"Judge James Marner determined that the law interferes with a matter of purely local concern: Phoenix and Tucson’s authority to determine how to conduct elections. He wrote that the state cannot require cities to conduct elections in a way that violates their charter, a legal document that establishes local governments."

The ruling, however, does not apply to towns. Town's are not chartered cities. So Oro Valley must comply for the law. This means the 2014 primary will be held in August, when many residents are away. The election will be held in November when partisan local and national elections occur.

This introduces two thing into Oro Valley's election process.  First, it introduces partisan politics into what is supposed to be a non partisan election. Second, it introduces a group of voters who are completely unknowledgeable about Oro Valley but who happen to live here into the voter's group.  These are the "other" 60% who choose not to vote in our local elections. These are voters who vote based on who last spoke with them on the way into the polls or, perhaps, a sticker given to them on the way in.  That will change our election process enormously.

There are so many reasons why Oro Valley should become a charter city.  Add: Controlling our destiny at election time as one of them.
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