by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington school board has passed a resolution expressing its opposition to Senate Bill 171 – which would move all municipal and school board elections to November and make them partisan. The Wellington City Council will discuss whether or not to do the same Tuesday night.

If S.B. 171 becomes law, primary elections for city councils and school boards would be held in August with winners advancing to the November general election. The local candidates would become partisan and must declare either as a Democrat or Republican.

At present, school board and municipal elections are decided in non-partisan contests with March primaries and April runoffs. The City of Wellington does not hold primaries. State and Federal elections are held in the fall.

The USD 353 school board had little trouble passing a resolution condemning the bill at its Thursday’s meeting. It passed 7-0. Local school boards and municipal government boards across the state have expressed their displeasure for the proposal and have passed resolutions condemning the bill. It is being opposed by the Kansas Association of School Boards and the League of Kansas Municipalities.

Wellington School Superintendent Rick Weiss told the board that he sees this as an attempt to give the ruling party more power at local elections.

“It’s a horrible idea,” said David Peck, Wellington School Board member. “I can’t even begin to think what kind of mess this will make.”

Wellington Assistant Superintendent Larry Roth said he sees it as an attempt to take local control away from the local people.

Board member Carol Hadorn said she objected to a statement made by committee chairman Mitch Holmes, who stated that teachers have too much influence in school board elections.

“I just don’t see it,” Hadorn said.

The City Council takes the matter up at its regular meeting Tuesday night at the council chambers.

At a work session last week, Wellington City Manager Roy Eckert said “it is a disaster waiting to happen.”

He said the potential is there to wipe out every elected local official in one day and then all the knowledge base is gone. He said this occurred in Alabama after local elections were combined with state and national races.

The bill was heard on Feb. 12 by the Kansas Senate Ethics and Elections Committee hearing Wednesday. Seven bill proponents testified for more than 50 minutes and two opponents were allowed to testify in the final 15 minutes of the meeting according to media reports.

Clay Barker, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, said SB 171 would encourage more people to vote in city and school board elections.

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