Politics & Government

Ellisville Voters OK Longer Terms in Office

Voters strongly favored extended the length of terms in office from 3 years to 4.

A referendum approved by voters Tuesday will extend the length of terms in office for Ellisville City Council members and the mayor, in addition to scheduling mayoral elections for a year separate of council races.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the referendum 1,027 votes to 448, meaning the terms for city council members and the mayor both will be extended from three years to four, although extended terms for the office of mayor will not begin until 2014; in order to stagger the mayoral elections and city council member elections, the upcoming mayoral term, which was won Tuesday by candidate Adam Paul, will expire in two years, followed by four-year terms.

Current Mayor Matt Pirrello the referendum was motivated in part by a β€œlearning curve” council members experience in their first term. Staggering the mayoral and aldermanic elections, meanwhile, is aimed at minimizing the likelihood of a "complete majority turnover" of the city council.

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Paul as well as Pirrello, who won a seat representing the city's first ward on Tuesday, are expected to be sworn in at the city council's April 18 meeting; Pirrello will complete his second, three-year term as mayor this month and thus was ineligible for re-election as mayor.


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