Despite objections, NC Senate clears bill shifting Forsyth municipal elections to partisan (2024)

The switch from nonpartisan to partisan elections for most Forsyth County municipalities cleared the N.C. Senate on Tuesday after being inserted into a N.C. House bill featuring a smorgasbord of local provisions.

The Forsyth language to House Bill 1064 was inserted by Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, who has pitched it as a mechanism for encouraging voters to the polls.

The bill affects Bethania, Clemmons, Kernersville, Lewisville, Rural Hall, Tobaccoville and Walkertown. Language affecting the municipalities was added Thursday and fast-tracked through two Senate committees.

HB1064 received Monday a 27-19 party-line vote with Senate Republicans in favor during second reading.

The bill has been returned to the House to approve or reject the changes to HB1064. If the bill becomes law, it would take effect with the 2025 elections.

HB1064 also would change the elections of Kernersville’s mayor and Board of Aldermen to partisan, and shift Bethania elections to odd-numbered years.

The municipality elections would shift from the nonpartisan plurality method to partisan.

According to the UNC School of Government, a plurality election features “the candidate or candidates receiving the most votes (being) declared the winner or winners, even if one or more of them does not in fact get a majority of votes cast: the most votes wins.”

In each case, regular municipal elections would be conducted in accordance with the state’s uniform municipal elections laws.

Mayoral responses

At least two Forsyth mayors have voiced their opposition to the shift to partisan elections.

“This amendment is a fundamental change to the way our citizens in Clemmons select and elect our local officials,” Clemmons mayor Mike Rogers told the Winston-Salem Journal.

“This is a major change to our charter, which has served us well for the past 38 years. This edit to HB1064 was added without consultation with anyone from the Clemmons Council or staff.”

Rogers said the current council composition “offers a diverse view on topics that affect our community.” He said the council is composed of — by voter registration — two Democrats, two Republicans and two unaffiliated.

Rogers said the fast-tracked nature of HB1064 “is problematic for Clemmons.”

“Action on the bill will have gone through both chambers rapidly and without a chance for the Clemmons Village Council to meet and discuss the topic at a regular council meeting. Without having this Council’s input from an agenda item from a regular Council meeting, as mayor I cannot endorse nor object to the language in the bill.

“However, I do express the lack of due process that should involve the Village of Clemmons with our local delegation.”

Some local municipal officials spoke during Monday’s Senate Rules and Operations committee.

Among them was Lewisville mayor Mike Horn, no stranger to making the trip to the legislature to voice his opinion on local elections bills.

Horn was quoted by legislative media outlet State Affairs Pro during the Senate Rules public comment period that “I would hope … that we can agree that the best legislation oftentimes comes from the collaboration efforts between the legislature and those that will be impacted by it the most.”

Horn added he believes a referendum on the issue would yield overwhelming votes in favor of nonpartisan elections.

Lewisville Town Council member Monte Long was quoted as saying a lot of great candidates are politically unaffiliated, and this decision would rule out many leaders.

Splitting Forsyth senators

The bill split the Forsyth Senate delegation, with Krawiec serving as sponsor of the Forsyth municipality language. Krawiec announced in December she would be retiring from the Senate at the end of her current term.

Krawiec said shifting to partisan would serve to increase voting in municipal elections.

Meanwhile, Democrat Paul Lowe failed in his attempt to have the Forsyth municipal language stripped from the bill.

“We all know that there really is no such thing as a nonpartisan election,” Krawiec said. “They’re all partisan.

“We do know also statistically turnout dramatically increases when elections are partisan. We are all constantly trying to find ways to engage our constituents to take action and to be involved in their local elections.

“This is one way to do that,” Krawiec said. “We should all be in favor of that.”

Krawiec said that by having an “R” or “D” beside a candidate’s name provides insight into the candidate’s political policies, particularly in municipal races where there are limited funds for campaigning.

“It’s transparency for the voters,” Krawiec said. “It tells them something about people that they may not know.”

Lowe said his amendment was submitted because “I don’t think it’s fairly done and it would be best for the municipalities” to leave their elections nonpartisan.

Lowe said some Forsyth elected officials “pushed hard (during public comment period) because they want their voices heard.”

Krawiec said that “we did have some show up today who were opposed to this; some of them are not opposed to it.”

“I do believe it is the best thing for those municipalities to increase their turnout and their participation in their local elections, and have local constituents pay attention to what’s going on in those municipalities.”

School board vacancies changes

HB1064 added language that would include the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education among 29 counties in how member vacancies are filled.

Current law allows WS/FCS school board vacancies to be filled by members for the remaining of the term of the vacated seat.

The change still allows the remaining board members to vote on filling the vacant seat.

However, the newly appointed board member would serve only until the next election of the board, at which time the seat would be filled by election.

Bermuda Run legislation

HB1064 also inserted legislation that allows the town of Bermuda Run to shift the hiring and firing powers over non-elected officers and town employees to the town manager.

On June 6, the N.C. House approved by a 102-2 vote for the legislation that was introduced in House Bill 1059.

The legislation, filed by Rep. Julia Howard, makes additional changes to the town’s charter, including moving those powers from the town council to the town manager.

The six-member council currently appoints town officers and employees, and determines their salaries.

There are currently three town employees — the manager, clerk and finance director. HB1059 would allow the council to grant to the town manager, currently Andrew Meadwell, the authority to hire, suspend or remove town officers and employees.

Another change is granting the town manager the authority to appoint the town clerk.

Town officers would remain nominated and elected in a nonpartisan manner, but using the plurality voting method in which a winning candidate is the one who receives the most votes.

The bill would not permit a property tax rate increase of more than 15 cents per $100 valuation in Bermuda Run without the vote or consent of the majority of qualified registered voters in a referendum.