Council to judge own election?

It appears the Century Town Council, including the two interim council members and candidates, will determine a winner for Century council seats 3 and 4 following the town’s upcoming election March 28 according to the town’s charter.

Seat 3 interim Shelisa McCall Abraham is running against candidate Evelyn Webber and seat 4 interim Alicia Johnson is running against Eddie Hammond.

In general, a canvassing board is an entity that conducts a formal ‘canvass’ of the results of an election, which includes reviewing the vote totals and either certifying them as official, or ordering and administering a recount, if necessary, according to Wikipedia.

In Escambia County, the supervisor of elections, county court judge, and chairman of the board of county commissioners makes up the canvassing board for county elections. The last canvassing board that was in place, according to Town Clerk Leslie Howington, has expired. She said it turns out a canvassing board is required for state and county elections but not for municipalities. She said that according to the town’s charter, the Century council judges the municipal election rather than canvassing it.

Howington told the council she spoke with Century Attorney Matt Dannheiser who stated “In accordance with the town charter, the entire council, even those who may be running for office, shall serve as the judge of the election.” Howington said if a conflict arises during the judging of the election, the state conflict of interest form will be completed and that council member will abstain from voting.

It appears that the Century Town Council, according to the town’s charter, will judge the results of its election. Several council members expressed their concern that it may cause a conflict of interest.

Howington read emails she had sent to Dannheiser and his replies that stated the council would serve as the canvassing board. Howington mentioned a signature training that council members can attend, although time constraints in this situation do not allow that opportunity.

Dannheiser who, according to an email “does not personally find it advisable for the town council to be the ‘judge’ (i.e., canvass) of municipal elections. Yet, we are constrained by the terms of the charter – which, until amended, would appear to be binding.”

Howington received an email from Escambia County Assistant Attorney Christi J. Hankins that “(Supervisor of Elections David) Stafford will not be guiding the Council in how to judge the election because it is not in our agreement to do so.”

All council members are required to be at town hall election night following the election to begin the judging process.

Mayor Ben Boutwell told council members they will come and verify the voting machines prior to the election March 28, leave during the election, and return afterwards and look at the tickets and verify the documentation.

Discussion led to a future workshop that could put in place verbiage to address this council situation in future elections. The new council members will be sworn in at the Tuesday, April 4 meeting.

In other business, the council:

-Heard from Cynthia Brown with Eating Better, Feeling Better, Living Better, Inc., a nonprofit about an upcoming health fair from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Century Community Center on Saturday, March 18, offering health check on site, presenters, exhibitors, drawings and giveaways

-Approved to table for the second time the half cent sales tax amount of $39,548.99 remaining in the Florida State Board of Administration following pay off of Century Town Hall in fiscal year 2020-2021

-Approved requests from Northview High School for a $400 donation to its baseball team

-Heard from Howington that Florida Power and Light anticipates between a 10 percent and 6 percent rate increase effective April 1, 2023

-Received an itemized list of materials to make the repairs that will be performed by Peacock Construction at the cafeteria at the Century Business Center, with a request from Councilman Dynette Lewis to include individual prices in the future

-Approved using $40,000 of Local Option Sales Tax funds to chip in on the total $173,375 to pave Alley 5, inside the town’s limits, because it is in such terrible shape

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, at town hall.