lantana referendum - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T11:43:56Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/lantana+referendumLantana: Zeitler, Castle victorious; voters choose to end runoff electionshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-zeitler-castle-victorious-voters-choose-to-end-runoff-ele2023-03-15T01:32:01.000Z2023-03-15T01:32:01.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>Not long after the polls closed in Lantana’s Town Council races March 14, the winners — incumbent Mark Zeitler and newcomer Christopher Castle – celebrated with friends and supporters at Lantana Pizza.</p>
<p>“I’ve been up since 2 a.m., I’m so wired,” Zeitler, 67, the owner of an air-conditioning firm, said by phone after seeing the final results of his Group 3 race. “I look forward to doing good things for the town.”</p>
<p>He defeated newcomer Ray Lastella, 32, an entrepreneur with a boat detailing company and a jet ski rental company, by a vote of 488 to 393.</p>
<p>For the Group 4 position, Castle, 37, a maintenance facilities director for PetMeds, won 470 to 406, outpolling Army veteran (and manager of Ace Rental Place in Lantana) John Raymer, 53. This was Raymer’s second run for office. He ran unsuccessfully last year against veteran Council member Lynn “Doc” Moorhouse.</p>
<p>“I’ve been through all the emotions from giggles to glee,” Castle said on the phone. Early results showing mail-in ballots had him worried, he said, but in the end, he won with more than 53% of the vote. He’s looking forward to being sworn in on March 27 and getting to work for the town.</p>
<p>Council terms are for three years.</p>
<p>Lantana residents also voted 507 to 341 to change the Town Charter to put an end to runoff elections. Currently, a candidate must receive at least one more than 50% of the votes in a race to be elected. If no candidate gets a majority, a runoff election is held between the two candidates receiving the most votes in the race.</p>
<p>Forced runoffs in two council races last year made some elected officials consider a change to a plurality system, where the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in a race — whether or not it is a majority — is the victor. Voters agreed. Proponents argued that runoff elections were an unnecessary expense.</p></div>Lantana: Charter change would eliminate runoff electionshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-charter-change-would-eliminate-runoff-elections2023-02-01T17:11:23.000Z2023-02-01T17:11:23.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p>A referendum on the March 14 ballot aims to change Lantana’s charter to put an end to runoff elections.<br />Currently, a Town Council candidate must receive at least one more than 50% of the votes in a race to be elected. If no candidate gets a majority, a runoff election is held between the two candidates receiving the most votes in the race.<br />A forced runoff in two council races last year made some elected officials consider a change to a plurality system, where the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in a race — whether or not it is a majority — is the victor. <br />The majority vote stipulation has been the rule in Lantana for decades.<br />Changing the election system requires a change in the town’s charter, something voters need to decide. The council cannot accomplish the change on its own.<br />Although runoff elections have been required only a few times in Lantana’s history, they cost extra money. Last year’s two runoffs cost about $21,700.<br />One council member questions the fairness of plurality, since more people could end up voting for other candidates than for the winner.</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>— Mary Thurwachter</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p></div>Lantana: Council seeks to end election runoffshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-seeks-to-end-election-runoffs2022-11-30T16:24:45.000Z2022-11-30T16:24:45.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>Lantana Town Council members say it’s time to ditch election runoffs and have approved putting a voter referendum on the issue on the March 14 ballot.<br /> Currently, a Town Council candidate must receive at least one more than 50% of the votes in a race to be elected. If no candidate gets a majority, then a runoff election is held between the two candidates receiving the most votes in the race.<br /> The majority vote requirement has been in effect for decades, but a forced runoff in two council elections this year has council members wondering if that’s the best option. Freshman council member Kem Mason and Vice Mayor Pro Tem Lynn “Doc” Moorhouse both won runoffs in 2022, the first time a Lantana election needed a runoff.<br /> Many municipalities no longer have runoffs. Instead, they use a plurality system, where the candidate receiving the highest number of votes in a race — whether or not it is a majority — is the victor. <br /> Town Attorney Max Lohman said changing the election system requires a change in the town’s charter, something the council cannot do on its own. Voters get to decide the fate of any proposed charter changes.<br /> Mason asked to discuss the issue at the council’s Nov. 14 meeting. He said he had to spend extra money for his runoff, but he said that wasn’t the reason the move toward plurality should be considered.<br /> “It’s costing the town money,” Mason said. He didn’t think it was necessary.<br /> Moorhouse said the extra trip to the polls in 2022 cost taxpayers $50,000 — although Town Clerk Kathleen Dominguez, reached after the meeting, said it was actually $21,728.55 for two runoffs.<br /> “It’s going to save the town some money,” Moorhouse said of the proposal, adding, “A lot of people didn’t even know there was a runoff election.” <br /> Council member Mark Zeitler, who is seeking re-election in March, had concerns that the issue was added to the Nov. 14 council agenda at the last minute. <br /> Zeitler questioned the fairness of plurality. While it may be quick, Zeitler said, more people can vote against the eventual winner than for him or her. He felt the system could be manipulated. <br /> He also said he felt misled following former Mayor Robert Hagerty’s Oct. 12 resignation. At the time, the council decided to continue with four members until the March election. Zeitler said he was told that nothing major would be coming up for a vote before March, only “housekeeping in nature” matters would be addressed.<br /> “I don’t think this is housekeeping in nature,” he said.<br /> Vice Mayor Karen Lythgoe, who is serving as temporary mayor, said she was ambivalent about which voting system was better. “I’ve talked to voters and some are for the change and some are against it. It’s not often voters can make a decision on something we do. This is one time they can.”<br /> The council held a special meeting Nov. 29 for the needed second reading on the proposal. Several residents spoke both for and against the change. The council voted the same as it did at the earlier meeting. Moorhouse, Mason and Lythgoe voted for, and Zeitler voted against, meaning the question will be on the March ballot.</p></div>