The Value of Non-Partisan Local Elections: A Look at La Plata's Roots
By: Paul Guttenberg, Candidate for Town Council Ward I
I generally knew why our local elections are non-partisan, or neutral in relation to political parties. However, until recently I had not read about the origin of the practice to make local elections non-partisan. What I discovered reinforced my belief in its importance. Let me share what I learned and at the end why for me it’s a reason to be encouraged.
Benefits of Non-Partisan Local Elections: A Quick Overview
Focus on Local Issues: Non-partisan elections allow candidates and voters to concentrate on the specific needs and challenges of their community, not national political agendas.
Reduced Polarization: By removing party labels, these elections can minimize the divisive impact of national political polarization on local governance.
Emphasis on Individual Qualifications: Voters can prioritize a candidate's experience, skills, and commitment to community, rather than party affiliation.
Lower Barriers to Entry: Non-partisan elections make it easier for qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to run for office, enabling greater participation.
The Historical Roots of Non-Partisan Local Elections: The Gilded Age and Progressive Era
The foundation of non-partisan local elections in the U.S. can be traced back to the late 19th century, a period marked by significant social and political change.
The Gilded Age (1870s -1890s): A Time of Corruption and Inequality
The source for what became the common practice of non-partisan local elections in U.S. history is traceable back to the 1870s -1890s during what is now called the “Gilded Age”. The Gilded Age was characterized by extreme materialism, widespread political corruption, and vast disparities in wealth. This era set the stage for reform movements aimed at addressing these systemic problems.
The Progressive Era (1890’s – 1920): The Rise of Muckrakers and Reform
Following the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era saw the emergence of social reform movements designed to address the challenges of rapid industrialization and urbanization. Investigative journalists, known as “muckrakers” played a large role in exposing corruption and energizing the public for change.
Corporate Corruption and Monopolies: Muckrakers like Ida Tarbell, who exposed Standard Oil's monopolistic practices, and Lincoln Steffens, who revealed unethical corporate influence, brought these issues to the public's attention.
Political Corruption: These muckraker journalists uncovered bribery, graft, and the influence of special interests in city, state, and national governments.
Working Conditions: Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" exposed the dangerous and unsanitary conditions, low wages, and child labor prevalent in many industries.
Food Safety: Sinclair's work also led to the passage of federal food safety regulations.
Poverty and Social Injustice: Jacob Riis's "How the Other Half Lives" documented the harsh realities of urban poverty, while Ida B. Wells-Barnett's writings on lynching highlighted the horrors of racial violence.
Muckrakers spurred significant legislative reforms, including food and drug safety regulations, antitrust legislation, and workplace safety improvements. The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which began the move to a merit-based civil service, was expanded during this time. Women's suffrage was also a major victory achieved during this period.
The Legacy of the Good Government Movement in La Plata's Governance
With all this historic context I now want to bring it back to La Plata by focusing in on one Progressive Era group called the “Good Government Movement”. This subset of the Progressive Era focused specifically on reforming the structures and practices of local and municipal governments. We can trace back to this group in U.S. history to see the origin of significant elements of La Plata’s town Charter and rules around our upcoming non-partisan election on Tuesday May 6th, 2025.
The Good Government movement sought to transform local government from a system of patronage and corruption to one of efficiency, professionalism, and public service. It was largely driven by middle-class professionals, small business leaders, and intellectuals who were concerned about the state of urban politics at the time. They valued expertise and believed government should be run by qualified professionals. They promoted rational planning and scientific principles to solve problems.
Core Objectives of the Good Government Movement of the 1890’s-1920:
Combating Urban Corruption:
The movement sought to dismantle political machines, which used patronage (awarding jobs based on political loyalty) and bribery to maintain power.
Promoting Administrative Efficiency:
They advocated for applying business principles to government, emphasizing expertise and professional management.
Establishing Professional Civil Service:
A key goal was to replace the patronage system with a merit-based civil service.
Restructuring Municipal Government:
Reforms included establishing the non-partisan Commission System and the Council and City Manager system, designed to reduce political influence.
Enhancing Civic Virtue:
Good Government reformers often held a moralistic view, seeking to "clean up" politics and promote civic virtue. They believed that government should be guided by principles of honesty and public service.
Non-Partisan Elections:
A central aim was to remove the influence of political parties from local government.
At the time the were Good Government Movement groups that fell all along the political spectrum. The republican group called the “Mugwumps” is my favorite named group, others had less exciting names like Progressive.
Opponents of these reformers derisively called them "Goo-Goo'ers."
La Plata's Non-Partisan Elections: A Legacy of Good Government Reform.
Today the Town of La Plata's Charter and Code of Ordinances explicitly mandates the non-partisan nature of our towns elections. Our current Town Charter was written in 1962 with restructuring revisions made in 1989. That 1962 document is the foundation of La Plata’s current Town Council form of government featuring non-partisan elections and contained within its words are reforms directly traceable to the reaction to Gilded Age problems, exposed by muckrakers and moved forward for actionable change by Progressive Era champions like the Good Government Movement.
After looking at the slate of 9 candidates who are running in La Plata’s 4 Wards and the Mayors office, I don’t think I am going too far out on a limb by saying we are all middle-class professionals just like the Good Government Movement reformers would have advocated for.
Something that has drawn me to seek service on the town council is that these are non-partisan elected positions. The issues affecting our town generally relate to tangible infrastructure concerns, funding of town services, and how we choose to balance growth pressures in context of relatively objective resource constraints. Elected town positions are also much less impacted by political parties because the parties do not fund, nor prescribe positions to the candidates or elected town officials.
We do still bring our own experiences and views to the roles but we still all have a lot more in common than not.
Following the towns general election five of the nine candidates will have clear roles in town government for the next four years. There will also be four candidates who each as well-informed residents, have much to offer in terms of experience and passion for our town. The non-partisan nature of our election will make it easier for any one of us that does not pass through the election process to keep engaged and make a difference in La Plata. And for that I am thankful and as a town we should value an election process that does not seek to alienate one another based on the influence of partisan siloes placed over local issues.
I think today well over 100 years following the initiatives to establish non-partisan elections in municipalities it is still a good idea with plenty of examples of how it serves us well today.
Maybe you think that makes me a “Goo-Goo’er” but that’s ok with me, I have certainly been called worse. :-)
Please Vote on May 6th. You can find contact information for all the general election candidates on the town website.
Or many candidates are also active on Facebook especially within the La Plata Community Group.
A “Vote Local” Plan For Town Council & Mayor
1. Plan To Vote:
Please Verify Your Voter Registration Status. If needed, please update your voter registration before 7 April. If you are not a registered voter, please let this town election be your first! Links for first time Maryland voter registration are on this page.
2. Share Election Information:
Please Share Election Information with Your Family, Friends & Neighbors Who Live in the Town of La Plata. www.voteguttenberg.org/vote-local/
3. Cast Your Ballot On Tuesday, May 6th 2025.
Voting occurs in person at the La Plata Town Hall, located at 305 Queen Anne Street.
UPDATE: Voting hours are 7 am to 8 pm on election day, Tuesday May 6th.
Thank you again and please see my web page for more information about me, and I ask that you consider voting for me as your Town Council representative from Ward I.
More than anything I hope you take the time to vote, and that you encourage others to do the same. When residents vote in larger numbers, it increases the emphasis for elected town leaders to engage and respond to concerns expressed by the public.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Paul Guttenberg, Candidate for La Plata Town Council Ward I