Elected officials also approved other charter changes.
Frederick, Md (KM) In a 4-1 vote on Thursday, the Frederick Board of Aldermen approved a charter amendment which would allow non-US citizens to vote in city elections. This change lets anyone who is 18 years of age and older, can provide proof of residence in the city of Frederick, and does not claim the right to vote in another jurisdiction to take part in elections in Frederick city.
“I am very excited to support this measure tonight as another way in which we are welcoming all members of our community into our civic circle here,” said Alderman Ben MacShane, who voted in favor of the amendment.
Alderman Kelly Russell cast the lone “no’ vote. She disagreed that giving something to one person does not diminish the work of another individual. “But I have talked to many people who worked to get their citizenship in order to vote who do not agree to that, who feel that their efforts and all the hard work that they did is being diminished by this,” she said.
Her comments were echoed by Curt Vasilier who said non-citizens should go through the same process of becoming naturalized citizens before being allowed to vote. “To allow folks to vote in local elections without having gone through those procedures is very much a token of disrespect to the folks who have the time, the resources and quite frankly the blood, sweat and tears to become a naturalized citizen,” he said.
But John Funderburk said many of these non-citizens have already established themselves in the community. “These group of citizens they pay taxes; their kids are in our schools; they own businesses. And they should have a right to say how their local tax dollars are spent,” he said.
Former Alderman Shelley Aloi urged the board to put some guardrails in this charter amendment.. She said not all non-US citizens have been here for a few years, and have established businesses and are paying taxes. “There’s another group of people that this will allow to vote, and that’s somebody who came here last week from anywhere in the world, has no buy-in in our community at all. And this provision, by establishing residency, will allow that person to vote,” Aloi said.
Alderman Derek Shackelford reminded his colleagues and the audience that freedom isn’t free. He said his father and grandfather fought for the country they loved. But they were not allowed to vote. “Grandmother who grew up in Alabama; father grew up in Alabama during the height of what we call the civil rights movement, facing barking dogs and water hoses for the right to vote,” he said.
The Aldermen also took a vote on other amendments to the charter. One would change the name of the Board of Aldermen to a City Council. The Council would have seven members: five would be elected from councilmanic districts, and two would be chosen at large. Right now, the Board of Aldermen are at-large members.
Another amendment would establish separate branches of government: the executive (the mayor) and the legislative (city council). The city elections would not coincide with the presidential or gubernatorial elections, but would be an off-cycle separate election as it is now.
There will be term limits. The Mayor would be limited to two consecutive terms, and city council members would be limited to three consecutive terms. But those persons could run again if they are out of office for one term.
By Kevin McManus