Common Cause/NY Urges Charter Revision Commission Not to Place Nonpartisan Elections on the Ballot

NEW YORK, NY (08/02/2010)(readMedia)-- In testimony to be given before the Charter Commission hearing in Staten Island on Monday, August 2, 2010, Common Cause/NY will urge the Charter Revision Commission not to place a nonpartisan election proposal on the ballot this November.

"Placing both term limits and non partisan elections on the ballot at the same time confuses the issues and intensifies polarization. Both are multi-faceted issues that deserve a nuanced public examination," said Deanna Bitetti, Associate Director of Common Cause/NY. "Putting them both on the November ballot makes it even harder than it normally would be in a 24/7 news environment to have a rational public discussion of either issue. In order to insure that these discussions are both thorough and meaningful, voters must be provided ample opportunity to vet these issues and consider each independently of the other."