WPB Commissioner: People Need To Know "Shenanigans" In Tallahassee

Commissioner blasts legislature's attempt to control city elections.

February 2, 2016 (West Palm Beach, FL) - West Palm Beach Commissioner Keith James didn't mince words when talking about what he sees going on in the state legislature. "I want to bring to the Commission's attention, and the public some of the what I call shenanigans going on up in Tallahassee that could have an adverse effect upon our city and upon our budget," said West Palm Beach Commissioner Keith James. Commissioner James, during last night's City Commission meeting, pointed out two efforts in particular that he called "troubling." One is a legislative bill that would force all cities to hold their elections on the same day in November. Elections in West Palm Beach, according to the city charter, are required to be held in March. "We hold our elections when we hold our elections because we think it is important to hold our elections in March," said James. "For some legislators up in Tallahassee who know nothing about West Palm Beach or what we're trying to do as a city to suggest that they know better about when we should hold our election I think is ludicrous," said James Commissioner James also singled out legislative efforts to try to force cities to bear the cost of moving a utility company's equipment if it needs to be moved from a utility easement. James says the impact on the city's budget could be significant, and he is part of an effort by the League of Cities to fight the idea. Both the elections issue as well as the utility issue are on the city administration's legislative agenda and will be the topic of discussion by West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio when she travels to Tallahassee next week.