A petition for a November 2009 referendum has been certified, quickly exceeding minimum requirements to place a question before town residents. Christiansburg citizens will be asked to vote and determine whether town elections should shift from even numbered years in May at a special polling location, to November in odd numbered years at regular polling sites.
Town Council examined this subject during several meetings in 2008 yet decided to take no action itself, with the Mayor pointing out the petition and referendum process was an option to pursue, should citizens wish to do so.
If the referendum passes, the last spring elections for Christiansburg would be held May 2010, when the terms of council members Ann Carter, Ernie Wade and Brad Stipes expire as well as the Mayor's. Under current guidelines, those elected would take office September 2010.
If the referendum passes, the first November town council elections would be held in 2011, shortening the current terms of council members Mike Barber, Jim VanHoozier and Henry Showalter who were elected to office May 2008. Showalter is a newcomer to town politics and was a supporter of the petition and referendum. If passed, it is presumed those elected in November 2011 would take office by January 1, 2012.
Detractors expressed concerns about partisanship, "uninformed" voter participation and maintaining elections unique to the town. Supporters stressed increased voter turn out and awareness, convenience and reduced taxpayer costs.
Christiansburg's Mayor and Town Council still can't avoid the topic as they have some work to do now, including guiding the process through the required judiciary steps and confirming how council and mayoral term dates end and begin, should the referendum pass. In neighboring Blacksburg, as in numerous other localities across the Commonwealth, a similar change has already occurred. Blacksburg addressed all related steps in about six months -- the key difference being that council didn't wait for a citizen referendum, and instead initiated the shift via citizen forums and a change to the town's code. Blacksburg's first November elections will be held in 2009.
In Christiansburg, this question will be answered by voters on November 3, 2009. Only Christiansburg voters will be provided with the unique opportunity to respond to this question.