Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Mayor Cory Mason has vetoed an ordinance that would change the structure of Common Council proceedings, including stripping the mayor's ability to appoint members to standing committees.
Mason on March 7 vetoed Ordinance 0001-25, which Common Council approved on March 4. Mason was not present for the March 4 Common Council meeting.
Alders Melissa Kaprelian and Sandy Weidner introduced the ordinance. With amendments added by council members March 4, the ordinance would: give authority to the Common Council president, rather than the mayor, to appoint members to standing committees; establish a council vice president and give them the authority to preside over Common Council meetings when neither the president nor the mayor are present; allow committee members to elect their committee's chair, and the chair to select a vice-chair; establish term limits for committee chairs and vice-chairs; appoint all alders as ex-officio members of all standing committees; and establish the Committee of the Whole as a standing committee.
In a statement from Mason on Monday, he said he has "serious concerns about the impact these changes would have on the effective governance of our city."
"I have urged the members of the Common Council to sustain this veto. I remain fully committed to working collaboratively with the Council on meaningful reforms that will improve our processes and serve the best interests of Racine’s residents," he said.
Mason said that as the only elected official chosen by the entire city, the mayor plays a crucial role in ensuring that committee assignments are "balanced, representative, and functional."
"Stripping this authority diminishes the role of the mayor in shaping an effective legislative process," he said.
Establishing the Committee of the Whole as a standing committee would further complicate committees' structure and jurisdiction, according to Mason.
"Given the recent adjustments to our committee system, adding further layers of complexity at this time could hinder — not improve — our ability to govern efficiently," he said.
Kaprelian also released a statement Monday, in which she said Mason's veto "represents nothing less than an assault on the democratic principles upon which our government was founded."
"When the mayor controls both who serves on committees and what items those committees can consider, our citizens lose their ability to have their concerns meaningfully addressed," Kaprelian said. "This level of control means that community priorities can be sidelined or ignored, effectively silencing the voices of Racine residents who expect their local government to be responsive and accountable."
Common Council will vote on whether to override Mason's veto at its next meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. March 18, in Room 205 of Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.
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