proposed By-Laws amendment

[Casey Peters]

Dear PNB Election Committee members,

Please allow me to resubmit for your consideration a proposal I made three and a half years ago shortly after I became National Elections Supervisor. It was based on my observations from two terms as Local Election Supervisor for KPFK in 2003-4 and 2006, and from discussions with board members.

My suggestion is to hold Pacifica Local Station Board elections only in odd-numbered years. The reasons are:
(a) To allow Pacifica people to participate in governmental elections. Because Pacifica By-Laws ban members from running for LSB and simultaneously for public office, this would remove interference with such candidacies in congressional and presidential election years as was the case in 2004, 2006, and 2010 and will be again in 2012.
(b) To give new LSB members time to settle in and focus on Pacifica governance before another potentially divisive election cycle comes around.
(c) To save the Foundation money by running elections only three times every twelve years rather than four times.
(d) To provide a regular biennial election cycle for Pacifica supporters rather than the confusing two-years-on, one-year-off model now in place.
(e) To increase term limits to provide those who have served more respite and to allow participation of more new blood on our Local Station Boards.

The last point raises the second part of the proposal. If elections are held only in odd-numbered years, the term of office will necessarily be extended to four years. My suggestion is that the term limit provision of the By-Laws be amended to require two years out of service between each single four-year term. However, if board members prefer, a question may be put to the membership to decide whether the two-year hiatus will go into effect after two terms rather than one.

2011, being a year off from Pacifica elections, would be a good time to consider this proposal. It would presumably be placed on membership ballots concurrently with the 2012 LSB elections and go into effect with the 2013 elections. That is, the 2012 ballot would elect members to a 3-year term ending in 2015 and if this proposal is approved, the 2013 ballot would elect members to a 4-year term ending in 2017.

I would be happy to answer any questions about this proposal at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Casey Peters
paci...@mail2casey.com

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