Voting twice on the same charter is a local 'tradition'

Voting twice on the same charter is a local 'tradition'



By SUSAN R. PARKER
Special to The Record
Publication Date: 11/02/08


Second-guessing the voters on local-government charters is a local tradition. In 1916 citizens were asked to vote again on the new charter for the City of St. Augustine. It was asserted that the electorate, who had approved the charter on the first vote, had not understood what passage might mean. More than 90 years later we are repeating history with the second vote on the county charter.

The previous year the charter to change City government to a commissioner-manager organization had passed by a small margin. Commissioner-manager forms of local government were being adopted all over the nation at the time and considered progressive. Supporters of the charter argued that it was time to replace the old highly political system of running the city with one that relied on experts and a business-like style. Those opposed to the change contended that "St. Augustine does not require the services of experts."

Typical of that time, voters did not vote directly on the charter, but for individual candidates who pledged either for or against the measure. To add to the confusion, voters could vote for both opponents and supporters of the charter.

In those days the ballots were not combined. The St. Augustine Record commented on election eve because of the city charter issue, "St. Augustine will pass through the agony of a double election." Voters had to deal with two ballots at separate locations. In the city, residents could vote at the sheriff's office in the courthouse, the fire hose reel station on Pine Street, the Garnett Building on Washington Street and Jones bicycle shop on Granada Street. The polls were open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The presidential election was on the general ballot with incumbent Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, challenged by the Republican Charles Hughes. The general ballot also included the Florida gubernatorial race.

Residents were able to watch the local, state and national election returns displayed on a canvas screen was set up at Corbett's dock on Matanzas Bay at the end of Cathedral Place. A telegraph wire was temporarily run to the Yacht Club building just north of Corbett's' dock to receive the election news. Trinity Episcopal loaned its stereopticon to project the numbers on the canvas sheet as they arrived by wire.

The charter passed -- again. Wilson was re-elected as president. Sidney Catts became Florida's governor.

By the way, this was Florida's last presidential election in which only men could vote.


Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/110208/news_1102_056.shtml

© The St. Augustine Record