Waiting seven years for Phoenix residents to vote in a City Council election could be only one of the unintended consequences of HB 2826. Before Scottsdale moved their elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, we had four Republicans and three Democrats on our City Council. Now, with elections being held in even number years, as this bill mandates, all seven members are Republicans.

Hmmm! Limited government, “tea party” Republicans, along with the Goldwater Institute, decided that more government is better when it comes to local elections. Another power grab by extreme Republicans?

Listen to what PR consultant Chip Scutari had to say on the subject when we appeared together to discuss election consolidation on CH-12′s Sunday Square Off this past weekend. 

You can watch the show by clicking the link below.

QUOTE:

“The reality is that the Goldwater Institute and other Republican groups aimed this legislation at Phoenix and Tucson, to get them to even numbered years so there would be higher turn out so Republicans can win.”

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/01/20/20120120sunday-square-off.html

Also, take a look at the stats below that Scottsdale City Councilman Bob Littlefield (R) provided to me that shows the results of Scottsdale’s elections since making the conversion to even numbered years. 

Spring Elections:

2000 winners: 1 Republican, 3 Democrats
2002 winners: 1 Republican, 2 Democrats
2004 winners: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats
2006 winners: 2 Republicans, 1 Democrat

Fall Elections:

2008 winners: 4 Republicans, 0 Democrats
2010 winners: 3 Republicans, 0 Democrats

I call this voter suppression GOP style. What say you?