By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            The Sept. 14 Bronson municipal election has a new wrinkle this year.

            Candidates running for a council seat must sign an affidavit swearing they have lived within the city limits for at least six months prior to qualifying, are 18 years old, and are registered to vote in Bronson elections.

            An affidavit of residency isn’t required by state law but Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones suggested the affidavit in part because the town charter states candidates must live in Bronson for six months before qualifying.

            Jones said residency requirements are governed by the city and town charters.

            More than once the question of residency has been raised in the past in Bronson politics. Former Councilwoman Katie Parks voluntarily resigned when the issue of her residency was repeatedly raised by a fellow council member.

            Mayor’s Residence?

            More recently, Mayor Beatrice Roberts was asked in two council meetings whether she lives in the city limits of Bronson or whether she lives in Raleigh with her husband. She responded she has two homes.

            Persistent rumors have dogged Roberts for years that she isn’t a city resident and lives in Raleigh rather than Bronson. If she wants to retain the Group Three Seat she holds, Roberts will have to sign the residency affidavit to run for re-election.

            Roberts has served as a town councilwoman for 20 years.

            This is the first election run by Town Manager Susan Beaudet. She has held the position for six months and consulted with Jones about the rules governing elections.

            “We just want to make sure everyone’s above board,” Beaudet said of the affidavit.

            Candidates sign an oath of office as part of qualifying. The oath is separate from the affidavit but less specific than the affidavit. The oath states candidates swear they meet the requirements to hold elective office in Bronson.

            One interesting aspect of Bronson election law is that an election caucus, directed by the mayor, meets 15 days prior to the election for the purpose of determining that each candidate qualified properly and is entitled to hold office.

            The town’s charter doesn’t state whether the mayor can direct the caucus if he or she is on the ballot.

            A newcomer to Bronson politics qualified Friday to run against incumbent Group One Councilman Robert Partin. Mark Kyjseth, a Bronson realtor, has been familiarizing himself with the Bronson government by sitting in the front row at council meetings and commenting on issues. Partin also qualified.

            Tyler Voorhees, who was appointed by the council to replace Berlon Weeks for the Group 5 seat after Weeks was removed from the council last year on a 3-1 vote, has yet to draw an opponent. He has qualified.

            Roberts hasn’t drawn an opponent either.

            Candidates can qualify through 5 p.m. Friday.

            Beaudet is planning to hold a candidates forum on Sept. 9 in the county commission meeting room to let candidates introduce themselves and answer questions. She said it will give the public more information on the candidates. She hasn’t decided if the public will be allowed to ask questions of the candidates.

            People interested in running for the Bronson Town Council must qualify by Friday.

            In races involving experienced council members, the veteran council member sometimes chooses to remain silent on whether they plan to run. Roberts has indicated she’s undecided.

            Raising Minimum Wage?                      

            Beaudet has recommended raising the pay of rank and file outside maintenance workers to $15 an hour. The council will discuss whether to follow her recommendation at Monday’s council meeting.

            “We’ve got to be more competitive with our hiring. We just lost another person, so we’ve lost six people in the six months I’ve been here,” Beaudet said.

            The town’s latest hire was on the job for a month before finding work elsewhere.

            State voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2020 that gradually raises the minimum wage to $15 by the year 2026.

            In Bronson, the minimum wage would be raised from $13 to $15 to get ahead of the curve on the issue.

            If the measure passes at Monday’s Bronson Town Council meeting, employees would be entitled to $15 after 90 days probation. It would also mean they would become full-time employees eligible for full health insurance benefits. The town pays for employee health insurance. As full-time employees, the town would pay 3 percent of the employee’s annual salary into a retirement program.

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Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt August 1, 2021; Posted August 1, 2021