Arcadia : Election Consolidation Vote

The City Council is expected to vote next month on a proposal to hold a special election next April on whether to consolidate council and Arcadia Unified Board of Education elections.

School board elections are now held in April in odd-numbered years and council elections in April in even-numbered years. Under the proposal by a committee composed of two City Council members, two school board members and a representative of the Chamber of Commerce, the combined elections would be held the second Tuesday of March in even-numbered years, beginning in 1990.

Councilman Robert Harbicht, committee chairman, said the effect in 1990 would be to shorten council terms by one month and lengthen school board terms by eight months.

He said the consolidation would save an estimated $50,000 in election costs every four years and possibly increase voter turnout.

Since Arcadia is a charter city, residents must vote to consolidate elections. Harbicht said that if consolidation did not prove successful, another special election would be required to return to the current system.