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Kennett council adopts resolution urging lawmakers to oppose moving municipal elections and party-affiliation requirement
Summary
The Kennett City Council voted Feb. 3 to approve Resolution No. 2026-2 urging state lawmakers to oppose bills that would move municipal elections to November and require candidates to declare party affiliation, forwarding the resolution to local state legislators.
The Kennett City Council voted Feb. 3 to approve Resolution No. 2026-2 urging state senators and representatives to oppose legislation that would move municipal elections to the November general election and require candidates to declare party affiliation.
City Attorney Terry McVey told the council that "currently candidates for municipal elections are not required to declare any party affiliation," and that Senate Bill 1329 would change that requirement while Senate Bill 1152 and House Bill 1613 would shift municipal elections from April to November. Mayor Jake Crafton said moving the elections "could impact the attention given to local issues."
The council approved the resolution on a motion by Council Member Kevin Swain, seconded by Council Member Dennis Pelts. City Clerk Mandy Lewis will forward Resolution No. 2026-2 to Representative Cameron Parker and Senator Jason Bean.
The resolution does not change local rules; rather, it represents the council's formal position to state lawmakers during the legislative session. The council did not debate specific procedural language in the bills during the meeting. The item was recorded as a formal council action and carried by vote.
