The State and Local Tap: August 7, 2021

 

 

Welcome to The State and Local Tap   August 7th, 2021   Our weekly summary of state & local news highlights New York Attorney General Letitia James’ release of an investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the results of Aug. 3 primaries. Read all about it in this week’s edition of the State & Local Tap. BALLOTPEDIA

 

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New York attorney general releases results of sexual harassment inquiry into Gov. Cuomo, impeachment inquiry approaches conclusion On Aug. 3, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) released the findings of an investigation into accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior against Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). The report found that Cuomo sexually harassed at least eleven women, breaking state and federal laws in doing so. The report's executive summary stated that Cuomo "sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women." Cuomo responded to the report's release, stating: "I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. I am 63 years old. I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am, and that’s not who I have ever been."  On Aug. 5, the New York State Assembly announced that it was close to completing an impeachment investigation of Cuomo, which it began in March. The Assembly Judiciary Committee asked Cuomo to provide any materials he would like to submit as part of the investigation by the end of the week.

 

Duggan and Adams advance from Detroit mayoral primary Incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan and Anthony Adams advanced to the general election in the Detroit, Michigan mayoral primary out of a field of 10 candidates, with Duggan receiving 72.4% of the vote and Adams receiving 10%. Tom Barrow received 6% of the vote followed by Myya Jones with 5%.  No other candidate received more than 2%.  Duggan and Adams will advance to the general election on Nov. 2.  Economic development and public safety were major issues in the race. Duggan said he would work with the city council and manufacturers to bring more high-paying jobs into the city. Adams said he would support a universal basic income plan and an income-based water billing system and emphasized early intervention as a means to reduce crime. Barrow also supported a water affordability program for Detroit residents and said neighborhood revitalization projects should focus on a broader area and not just downtown. The city of Detroit uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.

 

Seattle city attorney election still undecided The nonpartisan primary election for city attorney of Seattle, Washington, was still undecided as of Aug. 5. Ann Davison led with 34.5% of the vote followed by Nicole Thomas-Kennedy with 33.2% and incumbent Mayor Pete Holmes with 32%. Final certification of results is scheduled for Aug. 17, and the top two candidates will advance to the general election on Nov. 2.  Holmes won re-election without opposition in 2013 and defeated challenger Scott Lindsay in 2017 with 75% of the vote to Lindsay's 25%. In Seattle, the city attorney heads the city's Law Department and supervises all litigation in which the city is involved. The city attorney supervises a team of assistant city attorneys who provide legal advice and assistance to the City's management and prosecute violations of City ordinances.

 

Primaries held in four states on Aug. 3 Ballotpedia covered primaries in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, and Washington on Aug. 3. On the ballot were two state Senate special elections and regular mayoral, city, and county elections. Democratic and Republican primaries were held for Michigan state Senate Districts 8 and 28. Both elections were called after the previous incumbents, Peter Lucido (R) and Peter MacGregor (R), were elected to county seats in the general election on Nov. 3, 2020. The general special elections for both districts will be held on Nov. 2.  Partisan primaries were held for three city council seats in Tucson, Arizona. Only Democratic candidates appeared on the ballot after no candidates filed to be on the ballot in the Republican primary. Candidates advanced to the general election on Nov. 2. Nonpartisan primaries were held for mayors and city councils in Detroit; Seattle; Lansing, Michigan; and Topeka, Kansas. Also on the ballot were nonpartisan city council primaries in Olympia, Washington, and Wichita, Kansas, and county seats in King County, Washington. The primary winners are set to appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 2.

 

Detroit voters reject Proposal P charter revision Detroit voters defeated Detroit Proposal P 67% to 33% on Aug. 3. The measure would have adopted a new city charter for Detroit. The new charter would have made changes to policy regarding broadband access, police practices, healthcare, taxes and utilities, and reparations, among other topics. The revised charter would have been 145 pages long, adding 25 pages to the existing 120-page charter. Proposal P would have replaced Detroit's existing city charter, which was approved by voters in 2011 and enacted in 2012. The 2012 charter was the product of its own Charter Revision Commission, which was elected by Detroit voters in 2009. The charter was revised twice before the 2012 version in 1997 and 1974, with the original charter having been enacted in 1918. When Detroit first revised its charter, it set a precedent allowing for the creation of a nine-member commission to investigate and propose any necessary changes to the city charter. In August of 2018, Detroit voters approved a Charter Revision Commission by approving Proposal R. Later that year, voters elected a Charter Revision Commission in the November election. The commission was tasked with preparing a revised charter to put before voters. This charter was on the ballot on August 3 as Proposal P. Proposed changes to city policy within the charter included the following: developing free public broadband internet; providing reparations to Black residents; changing police practices, policies, and training requirements; giving residents amnesty for water and sewer fees; and granting tax credit for residents who show proof of overassessed property taxes.

 

Keith Hayashi assumes office as interim superintendent of the Hawaii State Department of Education Keith Hayashi assumed office as interim superintendent of Hawaii’s state department of education on Aug. 1. The Hawaii State Board of Education in June appointed Hayashi to serve as the interim superintendent after outgoing superintendent Christina Kishimoto announced she would not seek a contract renewal. Hayashi will serve in the role until the board selects a permanent replacement. At the time he was appointed, Hayashi was the principal of Waipahu High School, a position he had held since 2009. This is Hayashi’s second time serving as interim state superintendent; he previously held the interim role in July 2017, before the board appointed Christina Kishimoto to the position. Hayashi also served as interim deputy state superintendent from March to June 2017.

 

Colorado Supreme Court revises schedule for reviewing new congressional and state leg. redistricting plans On July 26, the Colorado Supreme Court modified its schedule for reviewing congressional and state legislative redistricting plans, prompting the state's congressional redistricting commission to adjust its own deadlines for submitting a final plan to the court for review.  The court's July 26 order requires the congressional commission and all other interested parties to submit briefs "seven days after [the commission] ... submits a final [congressional] plan and relevant accompanying materials to the supreme court for review, but in any event no later than Oct. 8." The court will issue a ruling on the plan by Nov. 1. On Aug. 2, the congressional commission voted to adjust its own deadlines accordingly. It will approve a final plan by Sept. 28 and submit that plan to the court by Oct. 1. The commission's original deadline for adopting a final congressional plan was Sept. 1. The congressional redistricting commission had originally petitioned the court to extend the deadline for submitting a final plan to Oct. 28. In response to the court's July 26 order, Commissioner Bill Leone said, "We asked for a schedule, and they gave us a slightly different schedule — it’s not as much as we asked for, but it’s more than we have."  For the state legislative district plan, the court set Oct. 22 as the briefing deadline. The court will issue a ruling on the plan by Nov. 15. The state legislative redistricting commission has not yet determined whether it will extend its original Sept. 15 deadline for submitting a final plan to the court for review.  Nationwide context: To date, two states have enacted state legislative district plans: Illinois and Oklahoma. In one additional state (Colorado), redistricting authorities have released drafts of proposed congressional and state legislative district plans.

 

Ballot measures update Thirty-three statewide measures have been certified for the 2021 ballot in seven states so far. No new measures were certified for the 2021 ballot last week. Signatures were submitted and are pending verification for three additional initiatives in Colorado. Fifty-six statewide measures have been certified for the 2022 ballot in 26 states so far.  No new measures were certified for the 2021 ballot last week.

 

State legislative special elections Fifty state legislative special elections have been scheduled in 18 states so far this year. Thirty-four (34) specials have taken place already. Heading into those races, Democrats had previously controlled 15 of the seats, and Republicans previously controlled 19. No seats have changed party hands as a result of the special elections. In special elections between 2011 and 2020, one party (either Republicans or Democrats) saw an average net gain of four seats nationally each year. An average of 57 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past six even years (2010: 30, 2012: 46, 2014: 40, 2016: 65, 2018: 99, 2020: 59). An average of 88 seats were filled through special elections in each of the past five odd years (2011: 94, 2013: 84, 2015: 89, 2017: 98, 2019: 77). Upcoming special elections include: Aug. 17 Connecticut State Senate District 36 Aug. 31 California State Assembly District 18

 

States in session Eight states—California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—are in regular session.