BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Starke’s mail ballot referendum on the position of city clerk is moving forward with the first ballots being mailed out on Friday.
Those will be the ballots for uniformed and overseas citizens. Domestic ballots will be mailed beginning next Thursday, Feb. 27. Books close of voter registration March 10.
The election ends at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8. At that time all ballots must be in the supervisor of elections’ office to be counted.
There is a single issue on the ballot. Starke voters are being asked if the city clerk position should continue as an elected position as called for in the city charter.
Commissioners have posed the following question:
“Shall the City Charter be amended to remove any reference to the City Clerk and respective role and powers and allow the City Commission to appoint a Chief Administrative Officer to perform any duties of the former City Clerk position?”
Voters will vote either yes or no, but they will only do so by mail.
The commission opted for a mail ballot election as the quickest way to answer the question before qualifying begins for the city’s general election in the fall. Qualifying for that election begins in June. Whether city clerk will be one of the positions open to election depends on the outcome of the referendum.
Last year, voters approved the removal of the police chief position from the charter. The city clerk’s position has been vacant since Jimmy Crosby resigned last year as well. He is currently overseeing those duties as chief administrative officer.
There has also been talk by the commission of a full review to modernize the charter and reflect changes in how the city operates. Any recommended changes would also be sent to the voters to decide.
Lawtey special election set
Lawtey voters will fill a seat on the city council in a special election on Tuesday, April 1. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Two candidates qualified to run for the seat last month. Kendra Butler Griffin is an educator at Bradford Middle School. Joshua Bell works in student services at the Santa Fe College Andrews Center.
The successful candidate will finish the final year of Councilwoman Emily Hoffman, who resigned last December citing personal circumstances and life changes.
