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Delegates Macdonald, Maurer, E. J. Clarke,
Morgan, Beachley:
On page 3, section 7, General Elections,
line 22, after the word "elected" insert the
following: ", except that officials serving
on a staggered term basis may be elected
every two years."
THE CHAIRMAN: The amendment has
been offered by Delegate Macdonald, sec-
onded by Delegates Maurer, E. J. Clarke,
Morgan and Beachley.
The Chair recognizes Delegate Macdon-
ald to speak to the amendment.
DELEGATE MACDONALD: May I first
inquire whether Delegate Henderson or any
other delegate has an amendment which
would allow judges to be elected in any
even-numbered year?
THE CHAIRMAN: He does, and that is
the amendment the Chair just suggested he
consider jointly with Delegates Raley and
Gallagher.
DELEGATE MACDONALD: Then I
will speak simply to this amendment, Mr.
Chairman.
We have adopted a local government
article which will allow each county in the
State to adopt its own form of local gov-
ernment, its own structure of government.
Some counties may wish to have their
county council, their elected governing
body, elected on a staggered term basis.
This amendment would allow that.
Without this amendment, I do not be-
lieve that any county government could
have its officials elected on a staggered
term basis unless they wanted to serve for
eight years, and I do not think that we
should imprison any elected official for that
term in office.
Therefore, I would suggest that you
adopt this amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any ques-
tions of the sponsor of the amendment?
Delegate Weidemeyer.
DELEGATE WEIDEMEYER: I would
ask Delegate Macdonald if he will accept
the insertion of a few words in his amend-
ment prior to "except that officials serving
on a staggered basis". The paragraph
would read, with his amendment:
"A general election shall be held on
Tuesday next after the first Monday of
November, 1070, and every fourth year
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thereafter at which time state officials shall
be elected."
THE CHAIRMAN: No, there is another
phrase in there. The phrase "state officials
and county officials except Baltimore City
officials" was added by the amendment.
DELEGATE WEIDEMEYER: After the
word "elected", add "including the approval
or rejection of judges".
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Macdonald.
DELEGATE MACDONALD: Mr. Chair-
man, I understand that Judge Henderson,
or some other delegate who has served on
the Judicial Branch Committee, is going
to offer an appropriate amendment. For
that reason I do not believe it is necessary
or, indeed, advisable to tangle with this
one. So, I would not accept that wording.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are there any other
additions?
Delegate Weidemeyer.
DELEGATE WEIDEMEYER: Speaking
about election of governors, technically
they are not elected any more. They are
approved or rejected. Therefore, I thought
we could include it all in one amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: He has rejected
your suggestion, Delegate Weidemeyer.
Are there any other questions?
Delegate Carson.
DELEGATE CARSON: I would like to
ask a question of Delegate Macdonald.
When you say "except that officials serv-
ing on a staggered term basis", do I take
that to mean county officials?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Macdonald.
DELEGATE MACDONALD: It is cer-
tainly directed at county officials. I do not
know of any other officials who are or may
be elected on a staggered term basis.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Carson.
DELEGATE CARSON: Would you ac-
cept an amendment to add the word
"county" after the word "officials"?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Macdonald.
DELEGATE MACDONALD: No, I do
not believe that is necessary.
THE CHAIRMAN: Very well, Delegate
Chabot.
DELEGATE CHABOT: Do you intend
that this exception apply to the counties
but not to Baltimore City?
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