Ordinance proposes city elections be held in fall, not spring

Voters will decide Tuesday whether to change the schedule of future Gainesville elections.

Tuesday’s municipal election ballot includes an ordinance that proposes the Gainesville city charter hold elections the fall of every other odd-numbered year.

Bob Woods, communications manager for Gainesville’s general government, said after much deliberation, the city commissioners decided this was an issue that should be placed on the ballot for voters to consider.

In addition to moving the mayor and city commission elections to the fall from the spring, the ordinance would also change the term limits.

The mayor and the city commissioner terms would be extended from three years to four years, Woods said.

In order to allow for municipal elections in odd numbered years, commissioners currently in office would end their terms early so voting can take place in odd-numbered years.

If voters pass the city charter, elections will move to the fall of odd years starting in 2013, with a regular election in October and a run-off in November.

Leila Milgrim wrote this story online.