Election for mayor may be pushed back to November 2020

    In the City of Holyoke’s April 2018 election, just 165 voters made their voices heard. That’s only 12% of those registered. Of course, officials would like to see the public play a more active role in the local government, and to that end, Holyoke City Council voted at its July 16 meeting to move forward with an effort to change future elections.
    As it’s currently structured, Holyoke has regular, in-person elections in April of even-numbered years. Four seats on the council are expiring in April 2020. Presently serving in those positions are Mayor Orville Tonsing and council members Kevin Scott (mayor pro tem), Scott Murray and John Schneider.
    Other council members, whose four-year terms expire in 2022, are Brian Akey, Steve Moore and Gene Bittner.
    This November in the coordinated election, the people of Holyoke can expect to see a question on the ballot that would change the City charter, moving regular elections to November of even-numbered years. The question will also allow for extending the terms that would expire in April 2020 and 2022 to November 2020 and 2022, respectively.
    Since the coordinated elections use mail-in ballots, City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Olofson is hopeful that more voters will participate. She also pointed out that the April 2018 election cost the City $1,160.17. Eliminating the separate April election and permanently joining the November coordinated election is a more efficient use of resources, as the participating entities split the cost.
    Should the people vote “no” this November, April 2020 will still mark the end of terms for Tonsing, Scott, Murray and Schneider, and an April election for mayor and three city council members will continue as originally scheduled.