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Ci[ies that provide more services with rheir own staff--� derice that on-cycle CICC1101-IS 1;1V0rVd Incumbents over dial-
<br /> as opposed co those chat contract out co firms or hake lengers. Although the vast majority of incumbents win
<br /> arrangements with other local governments-also drew a r%aralcss of election timing, city council incumbents were 4
<br /> larger share of voters to the palls. The authors speculate that percent more likely to be reelected in cities with concurrent
<br /> city governments that provide services directly have more elections. Large cities also tended to have higher reelection
<br /> control over basic issues rhac affect city residents' quality of mates and lower turnaut rates. However, cities with citizen
<br /> life. "Fhey also note that municipal eniployees tend to be a inirintives on the hal or a possible reflection of cornimunt
<br /> well-mobilii.ed segment of the local electorate. By contraut, controversy-h d Srgifi iedht s} lower reciccoon rates for
<br /> distinctions berween charter cities and general-law cities, incumbents.
<br /> and chose between cities with and without term limits, had
<br /> r�cf t�ir�%�:t r��[:rti��nshit�with local rrrrr7��ur, rl�ht data bring out other patterns of political competi-
<br /> tion at the municipal level as well. Predictably, the presence
<br /> "Che l)o11t1ca1 context of (he municipal election was also of an incumbent council member or mayor seemed to dis-
<br /> related to turnout. When at least one proposition appeared itrade potential competitors from entering local races; but
<br /> on thc municipal ballot, clues tended co draw about 4 per- Miere independent and third-party voters constituted a larg-
<br /> cunt mort.• registered voters to the polls. Similarly. ncc degree er share of the registered voting public, more candidates
<br /> ofconipctitiori for an c.ffiLt.--as nicasured 1)), tl-tc+ r;Errt1ber (it SOLIglit c1tvi office, even though par(y labels do not appear earl
<br /> clindidates was posirivck rc.•l:acd ro ita€tt�tt4, the ballot in C:.tl11'0rnia:4 local elc.•ctions. 1"finally, unore candies
<br /> dates ran for mayor where full-tithe salaries and longer terms
<br /> c:;r r��c=with chc c�f��ct�.
<br /> Election Timing, .Irrc- unbent Success,
<br /> tied Competitionfir Office
<br /> How Important is Increasing Local Turnout.
<br /> Noting that rriore thltn one-rhird of dic state's caries Coll-
<br /> The co hold c���f�-cyc:lc�or Odd-y}ear elections,tlYC.•authors �i�li�� authors c�strr7r�atc•chat if�all municipal elrccions in
<br /> maintain char a move to concurrent elections has the �rc.•stc•st nc� state had coincided with a presidential election, I .� mil-
<br /> maintain •- • � �' lion r��c��re Californians would have voted in their most
<br /> l)citcyr�tr�:l to ext��rnd voter l.�;trtlet�.�atr��ri in C�alrl'��r�r�l�ts local
<br /> • � f rcet.•r�t city council contest. They also note, however, chat
<br /> ��c�litic�il �trtna.��1�'lic.ir data also ir�dir:att chat r��orc than It) .
<br /> ��:rc.:ertt ofcicics hati�c: rescheduled municipal electit,�r�s c,:vtr�this rnea.�tire would probably fail co increase voter par-
<br /> percent �atror� beyond chc relatively low levels already found in
<br /> recently, in Tic}st cases switching from off-cycle co crr�-c:ycle � ,
<br /> elections. The reason for the rescheduling was often bud- statemde and national contests. Also, higher turnout may
<br /> g
<br /> getary; city governmrnrs pay a smaller share of election costs not translate into higher interest in local politics or broader
<br /> when their elections are held concurrent) with starewide participation in community affairs. Finally, on-cycle elec-
<br /> Ccarttests.
<br /> t' [ions may make it slightly more difficult for challengers to
<br /> defeat incumbents. The authors conclude, however, that
<br /> In corisit.ei-Ing a timing c:lixrnge, policyniakers may wish increasing voter participation at the local level remains an
<br /> rte consider the itr�ir7tcyr cltikc.l �c�raset t.rer ce4 rli�tt r�t�ty arise in portartt wav to enhance dernocracv in �r (I'v�rsc state with
<br /> f'oni election i-csc.lieduliny. l�c:�r t� �tr��l le, tl t'r' is mild e�riT l c:����rl tl city overrirtient .
<br /> Fri?r; research b V'zernrr arz e. a repori by Zolian 1. Hginal Piml G L e wil. anei Huh Louch, Municipal Elecrions in C:difornia: -Furnour, Tiring, and
<br /> i icon •`7002, 1?4�'i.,.. S 1100, 1-58 313-0 1-8. The report Arai=be ordered by phone a (800)232 534 3[U.S. annifrLind!or(4 15)?.91_4400
<br /> i_Zn art-1a, !M,uYrrt,vVe'rYeW o^nce dl:exi rs also avadtzble on the Inremer OFF=iviv.ppr`c-_org.). Dye Nblic I'olicy Institure of'Californrtz iF a pravare, YtontprOr
<br /> g:=ecli}:rlff0):,ded'c 7fed ro flddependd*tr, e�bjrcrlve, )femparri.sa 1 Y-ey'al*Cb rm ccon ni;'c, iocl-al,andpolirlcli 1*ifuei afecri72g GaliforpltQ.
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