An alternative method is being used currently in Montgomery County. There's a vacancy on the County Council, and anyone can apply to serve as a Councilmember until the next election. There's one stipluation: anyone applying to serve has to agree to not run for office in the next election. In MoCo the Council will select the temporary replacement, but it would also work for the Central Committees to select the temporary replacement legislator. This would avoid both the advantage of appointed-incumbency, and the costs of special elections. And the temporary-replacement-legislators would get valuable experience and exposure, which would potentially benefit them in future election cycles. Something to consider.
A good compromise would be to let the Central Committee make the appointment for a person to serve only until the presidential year primary. At that election, the appointee and any challengers with the relevant party should be subject to a vote by registered voters of that party. Such good bills have been introduced in the past.
That makes a lot of sense. Since we would have a major election for the President there would be little extra cost. Can I quote you or do you want to sttay offf the record.
Efficient? Perhaps. Democratic? Not at all. Electeds game this system all the time, exiting elected positions at key moments so their party can appoint an acolyte who can run as an incumbent the following year ( e.g., Kathy Klausmeier and Dalya Attar). It selects for loyalty, not creative thinking, problem-solving skills, or popularity with voters. Maryland politics is rife with insider dealing and this practice is a huge part of the problem.
Sure! You can quote me.
An alternative method is being used currently in Montgomery County. There's a vacancy on the County Council, and anyone can apply to serve as a Councilmember until the next election. There's one stipluation: anyone applying to serve has to agree to not run for office in the next election. In MoCo the Council will select the temporary replacement, but it would also work for the Central Committees to select the temporary replacement legislator. This would avoid both the advantage of appointed-incumbency, and the costs of special elections. And the temporary-replacement-legislators would get valuable experience and exposure, which would potentially benefit them in future election cycles. Something to consider.
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A good compromise would be to let the Central Committee make the appointment for a person to serve only until the presidential year primary. At that election, the appointee and any challengers with the relevant party should be subject to a vote by registered voters of that party. Such good bills have been introduced in the past.
That makes a lot of sense. Since we would have a major election for the President there would be little extra cost. Can I quote you or do you want to sttay offf the record.
Efficient? Perhaps. Democratic? Not at all. Electeds game this system all the time, exiting elected positions at key moments so their party can appoint an acolyte who can run as an incumbent the following year ( e.g., Kathy Klausmeier and Dalya Attar). It selects for loyalty, not creative thinking, problem-solving skills, or popularity with voters. Maryland politics is rife with insider dealing and this practice is a huge part of the problem.