Newberry Voters Have Much to Consider

NEWBERRY – Newberry’s citizens will soon go to the polls to consider the future of the City, how it will be run and by whom. The election of candidates to fill three Newberry City Commission seats is part of what they need to decide on April 14 as they file into the voting booths.

In addition to filling commission seats, changes to the City’s Charter and lengthening the terms for the mayor and commissioners are also on this year’s election slate.

The Group One and Group Three seats are currently occupied by Rick Coleman and Monty Farnsworth, respectively.

The Group Two seat was recently filled by Rocky McKinley upon the departure of Matt Hersom, who relocated out of the area.

The candidate qualifying period begins at noon on Monday, March 2, and ends at noon on Thursday, March 12. According to the election proclamation, “Candidates for the municipal election shall qualify for office with City Clerk Judy Rice at City Hall, located at 25440 West Newberry Road, Newberry; Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Monday, March 2^nd when qualifying begins at noon and Thursday, March 12 when qualifying ends at noon.”

The state required election assessment fee of one percent of the annual salary of the position sought is $108 and will be required as part of qualifying. Newberry City Commissioners receive an annual salary of $10,966, paid biweekly at $4228.

In addition, the City’s proclamation also details the voting precinct location, opening and closing times for the polls and a list of the clerks, deputy and inspectors of the election.

Following a year of review of the existing City Charter by a Charter Review Committee and workshops with Commissioners, proposed changes have been recommended to modify and simplify the Charter.

The first issue voters will consider on the April ballot is whether to replace the existing Charter with the newly-proposed 2019 Charter.

The second issue for voter consideration is whether election term lengths should be increased to three years commencing in 2021.

A copy of the proposed changes to the Charter can be viewed at Newberry City Hall.

A complete 2020 Newberry City Election Calendar was included with the proclamation and may be obtained from Clerk Rice.

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