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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Election Debaters,<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">I stopped by the city library on
the way from the post office.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Donald Huskey cited the below as
the applicable law.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">To see quickly if there was any
case law on this particular statute, I checked the Annotated Idaho Code.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was only one annotation and that
did not deal with the issue which the city now faces.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No all cases may be referenced by the
annotations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Unless things have changed, anyone
with a UI computer ID can go to the UI Law Library Site and make a careful and
complete search with relative ease to see if there are any other cases dealing
with IC 50-704.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They can then read,
copy, and paste to Vision 2020 all applicable cases.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>{Anyone can use the computers in the
lobby of the law library for the same purpose.}<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">However, if the city wants to be
squeaky clean and aboveboard on this issue, it should ask the district court for
a <SPAN style="COLOR: blue">Declaratory Judgment</SPAN> on an expedited
basis.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Since I am not an attorney, my
opinion is not likely to be very persuasive.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That said, maybe we should look
carefully at the statute at issue.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>50-704.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>VACANCIES --
APPOINTMENT. A vacancy on the council shall be filled by appointment made by the
mayor with the consent of the council, which appointee shall serve only until
the next general city election, at which such vacancy shall be filled for the
balance of the original term.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">It may be helpful to break the
statute down:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">[A]<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>A vacancy on the council shall be filled
by appointment made by the mayor with the consent of the
council,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">[B]<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>which appointee<SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: yellow"> shall serve <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">only</SPAN></B>
until the next general city election</SPAN>,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">[C]<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>at which such vacancy shall be filled for
the balance of the original term.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">There does not appear to be any
controversy about [A].<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">[B] appears to be saying that the
appointee serve </SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">only</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> until the next general city
election.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Perhaps a more exact way
of reading this is:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; BACKGROUND: yellow; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">shall serve <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: blue">only</SPAN></B>
until the {date of the} next general city election</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">This means, in my opinion, that
once the election is held, the appointee's term of service has ended.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The use of the word "<B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="BACKGROUND: yellow; COLOR: blue">only</SPAN></B>" in the context of the
statute and particularly in the context of phrase [B] seems determinative to
me.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">That being the case then [C]
should be read as:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">at which {date of the next general
city election} <S>such</S> <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the
vacancy {for which the appointee was appointed} shall be filled for the balance
of the original term {which is the interval between the date of the general
election and the date elected officials are normally sworn
in}.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">If it was intended for the
appointee to fill the entire remaining term of the position to which they were
appointed until the seating of those elected in the next city general election,
the language of the statute would read:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0.5in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">which appointee shall serve the
remainder of the term of the councilperson whose departure created the vacancy;
or if there is a general city election before the end of the vacator's term,
shall serve until a new councilperson can be elected and seated in accordance
with the other applicable statutes of this section.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Perhaps the legislative intent of
this statute is to install in office as quickly as possible a person who clearly
and directly represents the current will of the electorate, not one who serves,
once removed by appointment rather than by election, according to the past will
of the electorate.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">My opinion could easily be wrong
in this matter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, I urge the
city to seek a <SPAN style="COLOR: blue">Declaratory Judgment</SPAN> from the
district court on an expedited basis. Perhaps by Monday next, we could
have an answer.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></FONT><FONT
size=4></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><BR>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)<BR><A
href="mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>----- Original Message ----- </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>From: "Jeff Harkins" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:jeffh@moscow.com"><FONT size=4>jeffh@moscow.com</FONT></A><FONT
size=4>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>To: <</FONT><A href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><FONT
size=4>vision2020@moscow.com</FONT></A><FONT size=4>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 11:09 AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Subject: [Vision2020] Term of Office</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=4>> Visionnaires:<BR>>
<BR>> It seems to me that elections are for "terms of office"<BR>>
<BR>> I suspect that the state law deals with two issues - filling the
<BR>> remaining term of Hill (to January) and election of the replacement
<BR>> for the new term - (which is seated in Jan),<BR>> <BR>> A
consistent interpretation - leading to seating in January <BR>>
seemingly consistent with the will of voters ....<BR>> <BR>> Thus voters
for Hill get their full term and voters against Ament <BR>> don't have to
endure someone they didn't vote for more than his <BR>> elected term.
Seems rather straightforward to me.<BR>> <BR>>
_____________________________________________________<BR>> List services
made available by First Step Internet, <BR>> serving the communities of
the Palouse since 1994.
<BR>>
</FONT><A href="http://www.fsr.net"><FONT
size=4>http://www.fsr.net</FONT></A><FONT
size=4>
<BR>> </FONT><A
href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com"><FONT
size=4>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=4>>
ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ<BR>>
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