Live Oak, Florida, Slimly Approves Council-Manager

Voters in Live Oak, Florida (pop. 6,919), chose to adopt council-manager government on May 9 by a vote of 565 (57%) in favor versus 437 (44%) who wanted to retain the city’s mayor-council form.  ICMA worked with a Live Oak council member to develop a series of letters to the editor explaining the benefits of council-manager government, which were submitted to the Suwanee Democrat by local residents.

Commission Form Stays Put in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania (pop. 214,477), has operated under the commission form of government ever since the late 1800s. On May 20, voters ensured that the three-commissioner form would continue when they rejected a proposal to change to a seven-member governing body and an elected executive. The measure failed by 6,506 votes: 25,219 against compared to 18,713 in favor of change. Luzerne County, Lackawanna County’s neighbor to the southwest, adopted council-manager government in January 2012.

Administrator Proposal Curries No Favor in Curry County, Oregon

A home-rule charter proposal that included creation of a county administrator position failed to pass in Curry County, Oregon (pop. 22,248), on May 20 by a vote of 4,350 (63%) to 2,572 (37%). ICMA had worked closely with the proponent residents’ group, Citizens Charter PAC, by providing guidance, information, and a financial contribution from the Fund for Professional Management.

Need form-of-government assistance? 

ICMA provides information, presentations, and other support to individuals and organizations interested in promoting professional management and the council-manager form of government. Contact Michele Frisby, director of communications & public information, at mfrisby@icma.org or 202-962-3658. To learn more about donating to ICMA’s Fund for Professional Management, contact Erin Carr, development manager, at ecarr@icma.org or 202-962-3697.