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The process for changing city elections in Morristown is moving forward.

City councilmembers gathered for a work session to review what the majority of members feel are the right moves toward updating the city’s Charter, with regard to the election process.

Councilmembers received a copy of the Charter with proposed revisions as part of an Aug. 4 work session. In addition to the election process, there were outdated terms and definitions that needed to be addressed.

“I’ve not heard concerns, complaints, and corrections to those. I’m going to assume we are comfortable, ready to move forward,” City Administrator Tony Cox said. “Which really leaves you with the question of how you want to deal with your elections coming forward.”

“I know you had a public input session here lately, some folks surveying MTAS (University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service) and looking at other communities. We really need to get that resolved if we possibly can and move forward our timeline with adopting a resolution to submit the Charter revisions to the state at your next meeting.”

Chesney reported to councilmembers that he has communicated with State Rep. Rick Eldridge who has agreed to carry a motion, if made by council, to the state legislature.

“I’ve spoken with the chairman of the local government committee at the State House, Mr. John Crawford; we had a conversation in his office and he has agreed that he will push it and support it in that committee if Rick brings it to him – for the at large,” Chesney said. “In my role, I’ve been in contact with several mayors. I think vice-mayor Pedigo has as well; of course, he has contacts through his role in mayorship. I have gotten a good deal of feedback from the public who favor being allowed to continue to vote for all of their councilmembers.

“From my standpoint, I think it’s beneficial to the public that all councilmembers are answerable to all voters but that’s also feedback that I’ve received from a heavy majority – greater than 90% – of the folks that have come to me and that I’ve sought opinions from, is that they like being able to vote for all their councilmembers and to have that taken away, probably not the best decision for us to make.”

Councilmember Kay Senter said she shared the report she received from MTAS representative, Pete Auger, which Cox reviewed.

“Basically, what I looked at is other communities in the state that have a private act charter, as the city does,” Cox said. “If you look at all the cities that have private act charters, 89% of them vote at large. If you narrow that down by population and only consider those cities that are 10,000 or more, you still have 58% of the communities voting at large.

“So it is very commonplace across the state for cities that are in similar situations as us to have at large elections,” Cox said.

Kay Senter opined that she did not feel there should be numbered seats with regard to council at-large elections.

“I don’t know if that was thrown out there as thinking about it or something, but I do believe that if we are going to go at large, that you just have the seats and people decide to run and you get your top three vote-getters,” she said.

Chesney polled the Council as to their thoughts on age requirements for seeking office.

Councilmember Joseph Senter disagreed with Kay Senter’s opinion that 25 would be an acceptable age requirement.

“No, I’m not okay (with it),” he said. “If you’re 21 years old – these guys (gesturing toward the MPD officers providing security for the work session) they’re 21 years old before they can protect us. So if you’re 21 years old, you ought to be able to be the Mayor, not 25 or 30. You’ve got to be 21 before you can put a gun on them, am I right?”

Councilmember Tommy Pedigo explained his stance on the age issue.

“I understand what you’re saying, Mr. Senter, but there’s a difference. We’re talking about running a big business. We’re talking about running a major big business and I think you have to have a little bit of experience in business to be able to do that and that’s why I think there should be a 25 age limit on running for Mayor. Now, city council, I don’t think there should be.

“I also want to say this. Just like you all, I have not taken this situation lightly. This is a very, very important and a very, very major decision that we’re making here. In a city the size of Nashville, or places like that, I can understand why you would have districts and wards because in places like that because it’s almost a different lifestyle in places. We’re a small city. We’re a big city in a small area, and I think it’s important that we have the most qualified people to be elected mayor and city council.

“I’m not trying to convince any of you all to vote the way I vote. But I will tell you, I have talked to at least eight cities the size of Morristown and they’ve all told me, every one of them, go at large – that’s the best way to get your most qualified people. And we keep hearing this story about ‘Well you could end up with all city councilmembers on one street.’ Yeah, you could. But we all know that’s not going to happen. That’s for these naysayers. In Cookeville, you run seven people for city council and the top vote-getter is the mayor.”

Joseph Senter opined that instead of moving to an all at large election process, the districts, or Wards, should stay as they are, with just two at large councilmembers.

Councilmember Chris Bivens is recovering from surgery and was unable to attend the work session.

“Is it my understanding that Chris sent you his preference and his preference is with the majority?” Chesney asked, to which Cox replied in the affirmative.

Kay Senter added, “I have always qualified by my district, but I have never just been loyal to my district or only taken calls from my district, I take calls from all over and listen to everybody.”

Councilmember Bob Garrett concurred, saying a large percentage of his calls are from out of his ward.

The Charter amendments, included the changes to holding city elections in November (with all at large candidates, with the top vote-getters being declared the winners and a candidate age requirement of 25) will be prepared by city staff to be considered at the next council meeting on Sept. 19. If approved by Council and the state legislature, the schedule for the next city election would be November 2026.