(KNSI) – Waite Park residents may have half as many opportunities to vote for mayor under a proposed ordinance that would double the current two-year mayoral term to four years.
The ordinance aims to give mayors more time to implement their vision by extending terms, arguing that the current system forces officials to campaign almost as soon as they take office.
The change will be discussed during the September 29th Waite Park City Council meeting.
The next election for mayor is in November of 2026.
A 2016 study of only Minnesota cities with populations over 10,000 found that 27 cities had a two-year term and 79 had a four-year term. Minnesota law allows for either a two or four-year mayoral term for statutory cities, with the specific length determined by each city.
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