Senate Bill 1077 changes the City of New Bern’s municipal election schedule from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. It amends the city charter to provide that regular municipal elections for mayor and the board of aldermen will be held every four years in even-numbered years, using the nonpartisan election and runoff plurality method under state law. The bill also updates the charter’s vacancy provisions to align with existing election timing rules and clarifies when a special election is required or may be avoided if it would coincide with a regular election.
To make the transition to the new cycle, the bill cancels municipal elections in 2029, extends the terms of officials whose terms would otherwise expire that year by one year, and sets the next regular election for 2030, with four-year elections continuing thereafter. The act applies beginning with elections held on or after January 1, 2030, and becomes effective when enacted.
Impact
The bill amends the City of New Bern charter, specifically Section 3.1 of S.L. 2016-41, to change the timing of regular municipal elections and conform related vacancy procedures to state election law. It affects the mayor and board of aldermen by extending 2029 terms and shifting the city’s election calendar to even-numbered years beginning in 2030. The measure does not broadly change statewide municipal election law, but it creates a local exception for New Bern’s charter and election schedule.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and procedural rather than controversial, focused on aligning the city’s election cycle with an even-year schedule and managing the transition cleanly.
Contention
The main substantive issue is the change from odd-year to even-year elections, which necessarily extends current officeholders’ terms by one year and eliminates the 2029 municipal election. Potential points of concern would be the temporary lengthening of terms without an election and the local decision to alter the city’s electoral calendar, but no specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.