State Board of Elections affirms East Providence Canvassing Authority votes

Four-year terms for council, mayor will begin with November 2018 cycle

By Mike Rego
Posted 5/14/18

PROVIDENCE — At a meeting Monday night, May 14, called specifically to discuss the recent tumult surrounding East Providence term lengths, the State Board of Elections affirmed a recent decision by …

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State Board of Elections affirms East Providence Canvassing Authority votes

Four-year terms for council, mayor will begin with November 2018 cycle

Posted

PROVIDENCE — At a meeting Monday night, May 14, called specifically to discuss the recent tumult surrounding East Providence term lengths, the State Board of Elections affirmed a recent decision by the city’s Canvassing Authority setting up the parameters of the process for the November 2018 ballot.

Two weeks ago, the Canvassing Authority held its own forum on the subject at City Hall. Then, the Authority voted to recognize codification in the City Charter of the 2012 referenda item approved by voters changing the length of terms for the City Council from two to four years. That change will take effect upon the November vote.

The Authority also backed holding an election for all municipal officers this fall. As well, deferring to Rhode Island General Law 16-2-5, the Authority supported leaving the term lengths for the School Committee at two years. Also, the Authority noted the additional charter amendment approved by voters at last year’s special election changing the term of the elected mayor from two to four years, again taking effect following this November’s election.

Monday, with little editorializing, the State Board of Elections, likewise, acknowledged each of the actions taken by the Canvassing Authority, seemingly bringing an end to about three-months worth of talks on the topic.

Over the winter, the council on a 3-2 majority instructed the city clerk to codify the charter to reflect the 2012 ballot initiative based on East Providence’s standing as a so-called “Home Rule” community, which gives municipalities broad control over many governmental matters not involving most aspects of taxation.

The move left open the question of whether or not there was a need to contest an election this fall for the council, at least. The Board of Elections and the State Attorney General’s office later became involved in the matter.

However, once the council made necessary appointments to the Canvassing Authority, a contentious episode in itself, and once the Authority took action on the elections issue, some clarification took place.

For its part, unlike the council the School Committee never took up the matter in a public forum only and until the Authority made its determination on May 3.

At its meeting May 8, the committee, in essence, voted to accept the Canvassing Authority’s position and forego any pursuit of litigation to clarify its term lengths for the time being.

“I think the new Canvassing Authority has made a clear and legal decision. And it seems to be the sense of the School Committee that we chose not to spend additional money to fight this. Our monies are very valuable,” said Chairman Charlie Tsonos.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.