Updated at: 10/30/2009 9:20 AM
By: Laura Kennedy
lkennedy@wdio.com

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Second Charter Amendment on Duluth Ballot

Currently, city employees who want to run for any political office--except Duluth school board--are required to take a leave of absence from their job.

"It is an outdated provision in our charter and I think it should be changed," said Duluth Mayor Don Ness.

And Duluth voters have a chance to do just that. There's a question on the general election ballot to amend this rule. It would require only city employees running for Duluth mayor or a city council seat to take a leave of absence.

"If you have city employees running for a position that would oversee their own position, being Duluth city council or mayor of Duluth, you can see the conflict inherent there," Mayor Ness said. "But for other positions, there really isn't that conflict there."

One city councilor says the current rule is "extreme."

"If you're running for state or federal office, or school board, I don't believe you have to leave your position," said Garry Krause. "You just shouldn't miss work because you're running."

Another councilor says he thinks this amendment is a good one because there are several hundred city employees, but not all of them live in Duluth.

"By nature of their employment with the City of Duluth, I don't think the charter should constrain them from being involved in a leadership position within their own community," Todd Fedora said.

So a "yes" vote means you think only those running for mayor or city council should take a leave of absence. A "no" vote means you think city employees running for any political office should have to take one.

The local AFSCME office says they do not have an opinion on this issue since no union members have approached them to have the current rule changed.