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96 Ballot ?
I feel the real issue with the 96 ballot question is "What question did the VOTERS think they were answering" - not "what question was BFCC asking". If the voters thought saying "yes" meant approving a feasability study to be performed and nothing more - that DOES matter. One can argue that they misiterpreted the 96 ballot question (although, I'm not convinced of that), but one can not argue what they meant by their vote - that is THEIR personal expression. And if a ballot question is so easily misinterpreted, it wasn't worded properly to begin with.
If this argument were going before a judge or jury, who knows WHAT the outcome would be - but it's not. If the question of repeal goes before the voters - it will be their own experience of issues like this that they base their vote on.
The BF residents I've talked to thought they were voting on a feasability study only. They do not feel they authorised their CC to go forward and spend public funds to create (98) ballot wording and promote the issue to legislature and public.
By WW
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For WW
Hi WW. I think "political machine" means an organization controlled by a person called a "boss" or by a small group which subjects party organization and public officials to its will and operates ruthlessly in exploiting governmental activities of nearly every sort for the private gain of its members. The machine would take measures to control who gets elected to office. Many years ago, there were even instances where a machine would register the names of people in a cemetery and then get people to use these names to vote.
The term "boss" refers to an autocratic and usually irresponsible leader of a political machine in a state, county, or city whose power rests on devious or corrupt methods of controlling the electorate and the processes of nomination and election. People were given jobs in government based on their loyalty to the machine regardless of whether they were capable of doing the jobs.
I believe "municipal reformers" refers to groups and individuals who worked to reform municipal government from the "machine politics" to clean government. Various aspects of reform included personnel merit systems which provided that positions in municipal government be open to all qualified citizens and be filled on the basis of competitive examinations and the education and training of the people interested in these jobs. I believe that other aspects of municipal reform included stronger election laws to prevent "cemetery registrations" and other attempts to manipulate the election process. The main thing was to take away the reins of local government from political machines and give local government back to the people.
Both Broomfield and Westminster have the council-manager form of government. Both cities have home rule charters that provide for this form of government. One of the purposes of the council-manager form of government is to bring professionalism and efficiency to local government. Under the council-manager form of government, the city council appoints the city manager who serves as the city's chief executive officer. The manager appoints department heads on the basis of the education, training, and experience of the individuals in their particular fields - e.g., police chief, public works director, personnel director, finance director, city engineer, etc. The manager reports to and serves at the pleasure of the city council. The role of mayor in the council-manager form of government is to serve as the ceremonial head of the local government, to preside at council meetings, and to assist in providing policy leadership. The mayor and city council form policies and the city manager is responsible for implementing the policies and for administering the day to day activities of the city government.
The constitutional amendment creating the city and county of Broomfield is based on the council-manager form of government. It is interesting to read the comments of some on this board who criticize that the City and County of Broomfield constitutional amendment provides for the appointment of county assessor and county clerk and recorder by the manager rather than having these as elected postions. What these people are really saying, albeit probably unknowingly, is lets go back to a system that is subject to machine politics.
You can obtain a copy of the Broomfield home rule charter at the Broomfield Public Library. A home rule charter serves as a city's constution.
Hope this helps. Best regards.
By BBW
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For WW
I'm sure that some Broomfield residents may agree with you. The ballot question was prepared by attorneys and I would be the first to agree that they have a language of their own. Let's take a hard look at the ballot question: "Shall the City of Broomfield consider placing a question on a statewide general election ballot that would amend the Colorado Constitution to authorize the creation of a city and county."
What does the "City of Broomfield" mean? If refers to the Broomfield city government headed by the Broomfield city council.
What does "consider" mean. Let's give the critics the benefit of doubt. Let's say that consider means to study - although it also means to judge or to determine. What do we have so far? Shall the City Council study. Okay, after the City Council studies, then what? It seems that if the City Council studies the matter and determines that it is financially and operationally feasible for Broomfield to become a city and county, then the ballot question provides direction for the city council to work to have the matter placed on the statewide ballot.
How is the matter to be placed on the statewide ballot? The Broomfield city council does not have the authority to place anthing on the statewide ballot. As has been discussed before, this can only be done by the general assembly or by petitions with the required number of valid signatures. The Broomfield citizens group, Citizens for Better Local Government, was planning to use the petition route. However, state elected officials offered to help place the question on the statewide ballot.
The small group that was opposed to the City and County of Broomfield raised questions about what they thought the ballot question meant and wrote letters to the editor. Their argument did not prevail and I'm sure they would like to have CVELG replay it.
I also talk to a lot of Broomfield citizens. What I hear is that they are excited about Broomfield becoming a combined city/county. During this November's local election, candidates for Broomfield city council went door to door, talking with Broomfield citizens. All I can tell you is that they did not hear what you are hearing. During the Council candidate debate, many of the candidates talked about the challenges that lay ahead in becoming a city and county. Not one candidate said that the city/county matter should be voted on again.
By BBW
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The Complete Ballot Question 96
The ballot read:
Question 2A: An Advisory Question
Shall the City of Broomfield consider placing a question on the statewide general election ballot that would amend the Colorado Constitution to authorize the creation of a city and county?
Who doubts this was a question?
By Br Anon
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