Letters to the Editor

Citizen objecting to Elkins charter change

Mr. Stokes and Honorable Council Members,

Let this email serve as my objection as a citizen and voter of Elkins to Ordinance 276 whereas Section 3.04(b) would be amended.

I object to the change of the charter of Elkins as proposed in ordinance 276. Any deviation or amendment of this type to the charter, should at the least be presented to the voters at the next scheduled city election as to avoid any excess cost to the City of Elkins and its citizens. City Charter changes should be done at the public voting booth.

The proposed change to Section 3.04(b) shown below has my objection:

"Now therefore, be it Ordained and Enacted by the Common Council of Elkins, West Virginia, that the City Charter be amended by eliminating the prohibition in City Charter Section 3.04(b) against the Mayor holding any other elected public office during term of office as Mayor of Elkins. All other provisions of the City Charter, including the prohibition in City Charter Section 3.04(b) against the Mayor being employed by the City in any other capacity during term of office as Mayor of Elkins, shall remain in full force and effect as adopted on November 19, 2020, and as further amended at the 2021 Elkins Municipal Election."

I believe that any level of elected government office at the municipal level, county level and state level should be limited in as much that no one individual shall hold any two offices at any level of government either by election or appointment.

1) County government has to work closely with municipal governments on many matters and state government, either the House of Representatives or WV Senate votes on many issues that directly affect municipalities or counties with financial matters or other governing law.

2) The time required to fulfill a term in state legislature would hinder the Mayor's ability to govern the City and should never be allowed and the same would go for a County government elected position.

3) There is a Question of Ethics.

I feel that a dangerous precedent would be set if this is allowed.

R. Alan Huffman

Elkins