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2 <br /> <br />into the neighborhood association model. He said we should reach out to neighborhood <br />associations, but also need to realize that not everybody is represented there. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he feels that neighborhood associations are better organizational <br />vehicles and suggested that we devote more resources to enliven them. He said the key is <br />getting more people involved in the function of government, then more people will vote. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he is a little concerned about giving too much financial assistance <br />to neighborhood associations and having them become an arm of the City. He said he <br />thinks they can be strengthened by Councilors going to meetings. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said that offering Councilors to attend meetings may spur <br />neighborhood associations to meet. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling asked if there are times that neighborhood associations would not <br />want Councilors present, and Mr. O'Brien said yes. He said the genesis of the idea is that <br />people feel they are not getting enough information or communication with the City. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown suggested meeting with neighborhood associations to see if they think <br />this is a good idea. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said another piece to this is having Councilors keep regular office <br />hours in the Mayor's office. <br /> <br /> Councilors agreed to be available to meet with the public in City Hall for two <br />hours a day a month, with a Councilor being available every week. <br /> <br />Non-Partisan Elections <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Brien said that the idea was that Council candidates would not be <br />nominated by political parties, but would be required to collect signatures to be on the <br />ballot. He said parties could continue to endorse candidates. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said that having non-partisan elections would take away the <br />intimidation factor because currently if a candidate does not get their party' s nomination <br />they have signed a form saying they will not run as an independent. He said candidates <br />are not able to challenge their own party. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he does not think a charter change would change the practice of <br />what happens. He said Charlottesville has a very active democratic party and they would <br />not want to be precluded from the nomination process. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said they could be precluded from the process if elections become <br />non-partisan. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Dr. Brown about cities that have non-partisan <br />elections, Mr. Brown said that political parties could continue to have mass meetings to <br />decide who to endorse. He said there are a lot of non-partisan elections in the Tidewater <br />area because they have a large number of federal employees who are not able to <br />participate in partisan elections because of federal restrictions. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if there was evidence of higher voter turnout in non-partisan <br />elections, and Mr. O'Brien said there was no direct evidence of that. <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch said he thinks the idea is a non-starter and suggested Council move on. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he does not feel beholden to anyone as a result of being a <br />political party candidate. He said he does not see what is wrong with the current system. <br />He said money is the issue and that we spend too much on elections. He said he supports <br />staying where we are. <br /> <br /> <br />