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Cons For Removinq the Primar 1. A disadvantage of removing the primary is that costs cannot be cut half. There are a lot of fixed costs incurred whether there is a primary or not. In an odd year, the city budgets $51,600 for the primary. The variable costs are election judges ($9000-$11000) and printing of ballots (up to $3720). That totals a savings of $14,720, only 7 %. 2. A disadvantage of removing the primary is that depending on the number of candidates that fide to run, the city would have to generate 2 election ballots to accommodate all the names (to also include federal, state, and judicial offices for general election years). The city spent $3720 to print ballots in the 1 999 general election; if 2 ballots are needed, the cost could be near $6000. 3. A disadvantage of removing the primary, in the event that 2 ballots are required, would be the additional costs to refit the election equipment to read bath ballots. 4. A disadvantage of removing the primary at this time is that the decision may not reflect ghat the community wants. l believe citizens are preoccupied, if not overwhelmed, by the current state of affairs: loss of savings, loss of jabs (and health stagnant a , covers e nant econom � � y, potential loss of sons and daughters duo to impending rear, bio- chemical survival, terrorist attacks...the list goes ors. Mow can you expect citizens to formulate rational opinions, or any opinion, on the primary when they are under such duress is unscrupulous to ask. Process issues Perhaps these issues can be raised at the council meeting where the primary election decision will be made. 1. There is a fundamental flaw in the process of stacking up pros versus cans to decide an issue. Each pro and con must be weighted for impact and importance. For example, a pro for brushing your teeth at night is so that you keep your teeth longer. A can is that you could be getting something else done instead of brushing your teeth. This con doesn't hold the weight that the pro does. 2. If the primary is eliminated, then we propose the instant run -off tally be implemented to protect the wishes of the public.