M.C. Election Board approves public question for Bremen Town Council on November ballot

Bremen town attorney Tony Wagoner has been working with Marshall County Clerk Jenny Bennet, to get a public question on the fall ballot. 

A resolution was filed by the Bremen Town Council to increase the current board members from four to five.  It is common to have an odd number of board members making it less likely to have a tie vote.  In Bremen, if there is a tie vote, the statute calls for the clerk-treasurer to make the tie-breaking vote.

Election Board member Steve Harper said it’s not a decision for the election board to determine if the Bremen Town Council should increase its members.  He said our job is to determine if the paperwork is in proper order.     

Board member Susie Kreighbaum questioned filling the vacancy if the voters agreed to increase the number of town council members. Harper said the public question will be voted on in the November election.  It was unclear if districts would be changed in Bremen or if the position would be an at-large seat.  It also wasn’t clear how soon a vote would happen to select a candidate to fill the seat.

Bennett said all four Bremen Town Council members are up for election at the same time.  This change will allow them to have staggered terms.  She said there’s a lot of work ahead of them to do before a candidate will be elected.      

The Marshall Council Election Board unanimously passed the resolution for the Bremen Town Council.   The public question on the ballot for the Presidential Election will ask Bremen voters: Shall the number of town council members be increased from four (4) to five (5)?