Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Legal Services Department

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Toni Wheeler, Director of Legal Services
Date:	December 2, 2008
RE:	Primary Elections

A primary election will be needed if there are 10 or more candidates for the Lawrence City Commission. 

According to the Secretary of State’s office, HB 2307 has caused some confusion and has been difficult to interpret.  The Revisor’s Office and the Secretary of State’s office both indicated the legislation may need to be amended to clarify its provisions in the upcoming Legislative Session. The Secretary of State’s office is advising cities to follow the bill’s intent which is to hold a primary if there is one more than 3 times the number of candidates as there are offices to fill.  In our case, that would be 10 candidates.   

Since the City election statutes are non-uniform, a charter ordinance would be appropriate, if that is the Commission’s desire.