Leaky Pen -- Overbite Factor revisited May 22, 2004 During the 2001 city election campaign we mentioned something we called the Overbite Factor, the phenomenon which developed by the creation of four-year terms for councilmembers which come midway through the mayoral term, allowing for incumbent councilmembers to run for mayor without risk to their seats and allow mayors to take an active role in city elections without immediately disappointing any immediate voters. We wondered if this was indeed the best way to run a city. It may be; we were not [and are not] necessarily opposed to it, but we felt it an unusual situation and wondered how we got into this unorthodoxness with so little public discussion. At that time, there were three councilmembers seeking Norm's job. Two ended up filing and one indeed almost was elected. Last year Mayor Kelly took an active role in supporting several council candidates. Has anybody been thinking of this since? If we have problems with this system it makes more sense to discuss it when there is no immediate challenge. CSP |
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