7/27-8/2 ELECTION RESULTS
I am so incredibly disappointed, but I’m not surprised. There weren’t that many elections last week, but the ones there were did not go well for us, and the worst part is, it wasn’t by much. If people took these local elections seriously, we would have won. But please don’t lose hope, I have some reminders at the end that might help you see this in a different light.
Massive thank you to Michelle PF Masters for not just finding these elections in the first place, but finding the results as well!
Massachusetts Town of Townsend Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Special Election
considering a proposition 2 and 1/2 Override to fund an additional $258,827.00 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding wages, salaries and benefits for the Town’s operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026
Question 1:
Shall the Town of Townsend be allowed to assess an additional $258,827.00 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding wages, salaries and benefits for the Town’s operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025?
RESULT: Yes: 417 No: 964
Townsend has chosen not to raise taxes on real estate and property taxe. Wages, salaries and income for the town operating budget will not increase.
Town of Great Falls South Carolina Special Election
Town Council At-large: Jody L. Knight (ordained minister, associates degree in Bible studies, lost bid for mayor in April during that campaign he was publicly accused of going to the home of another candidate to threaten them), Wytricia KK Mack
RESULT: Jody Knight: 89, 54.9%, Wytricia Mack: 73, 45.1%, Total Votes 162
All it would have taken for the guy who threatened another candidate to lose was SIXTEEN votes!
Town of Blythewood South Carolina Referendum Special Election (Richland & Fairfield) Shall the Town of Blythewood change its form of government from Mayor-Council form to the Council-Manager form?
Changing the town government structure would move some power from the mayor to the council and would require (instead of optional) hiring of a manager/administrator who would have certain powers (budget setting, salaries, hiring/firing of staff, etc.). This proposed change appears geared at disempowering the current mayor, likely Dem, accusing him of financial mismanagement citing an $18,000 Christmas party that they claim was the mayor's personal party despite the attendee list being made up of government employees from the city and across the state, and the cost of which included holiday bonuses for staff. Among his financial decisions included raising the pay of employees to bring them in-line with those of neighboring areas, reinstating with back-pay a position that was terminated supposedly for budget reasons, firing legal council for a lawsuit over wrongful termination where he subsequently settled the issue with the former employer...apparently without significant financial cost, hiring individuals for approved positions both with and without approved funding. The council has sued the mayor for hiring an individual to fill an open position without seeking the council's approval of the individual, who notably been previously approved by the council as an applicant for a similar position. They have also repeatedly critiqued the mayor for requesting that they respond to emails and attend the monthly meetings that are required of their positions saying his reminders that doing their jobs is "mandatory" is "threatening" to them. The four person council that stands to gain substantial power from this government change, has managed to temporarily suspend the current mayor. The council stands to gain the ability to make a large number of decisions including the ability to choose to hire additional council people. The council includes an individual previously accused by the council, former mayor, and current staff members of ethical issues; an individual who has been recently fired from another position for lying about her education; and an individual who demanded, and got the council to approve, the canceling of all town holiday celebrations until additional funding is provided to the sheriff's department to provide security for all events, a new mandate is passed requiring citizens to pay the sheriff for a security detail for all private events over a certain size, and a youth curfew is put in place.
By FIFTY VOTES, the Republican town council now has control over the mayor. It’s basically what happened in North Carolina, but on a much smaller scale.
THIS is why local elections matter!
But here’s the good news, these elections happen EVERY SINGLE WEEK! Not these specific town, but there are other small towns all over the country, and YOU can help make sure these outcomes don’t happen there.
Make sure you know when your next election is, and your friends and family know when their next elections are. You might have to do a bit of digging, elections this small are probably not on your Secretary of State website, but they would be on your county or town board of election website or tab.
Republicans are in power right now because they focused about elections this small. Now it’s OUR turn!
Your vote and your voice are your superpower, but ONLY when you use them!
Thank you so much for what you do.
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