The Oklahoma State Capital

GUTHRIE - All of the votes are in. With a small majority the voters of Guthrie have said that City Councilmen should be able to hold office at the age of 21. In a close 179 to 155 decision voters approved changing the City Charter to allow for the lowering of this age requirement from 25 to 21. A majority of citizens voted Yes in 10 out of 14 precincts and in the absentee balloting.

Voters also easily approved the question on the ballot that allowed the city government to operate on an Oct 1-Sept 30 fiscal year. This question was approved in 13 of the 14 precincts and in the absentee balloting.

A question which clarified some of the language in the Charter was approved 286-51.

It appears that while a majority of the public did support all three Charter amendments opposition was felt to all three in two Ward 1 precincts. Precincts 102 (Highland Hall) and 307 (First Christian Church) defeated the age change proposition and registered above average opposition to the other two purposed changes.

The only other two precincts to defeat the age change were precincts 309 (West Noble Avenue) and 104 (Harmony Community). Precinct 104 had the unique distinction of being the only precinct defeating both propositions. However it should be noted that only two people voted at this location.

Items of note included:

- 40% of the voters who voted in the April 99 General Municipal Elections voted in this election.

- Ward II Councilor Randy Foster was the leading advocate of the change in the fiscal year. Ward II voters supported Mr. Fosters proposition 93-13.

- Ward III Councilor Grant Aguirre was the primary advocate on council of the age change requirement. Ward III voters agreed with Grant by supporting the age change 42-37.

- Ward I was the only ward to defeat a proposal. By a vote of 81-77 the ward voted not to allow the age requirement to change.

Proposition 1 -Clearing Up Ballot Language in Charter

Precinct 102

62 Yes

8 No

Precinct 103

12 Yes

3 No

Precinct 104

1 Yes

1 No

Precinct 204

21 Yes

2 No

Precinct 206

26 Yes

4 No

Precinct 307

54 Yes

12 No

Precinct 308

41 Yes

9 No

Precinct 309

22 Yes

5 No

Precinct 310

13 Yes

3 No

Absentee

34 Yes

4 No

Total: 286-51

Proposition 2 - Allowing the change of the city fiscal year.

Precinct 102

58 Yes

11 No

Precinct 103

11 Yes

3 No

Precinct 104

0 Yes

2 No

Precinct 204

19 Yes

2 No

Precinct 206

24 Yes

5 No

Precinct 307

51 Yes

13 No

Precinct 308

38 Yes

9 No

Precinct 309

21 Yes

5 No

Precinct 310

11 Yes

7 No

Absentee

31 Yes

7 No

Total 264-62

Proposition 3 - Supporting the change in council age requirement.

Precinct 102

32 Yes

38 No

Precinct 103

8 Yes

7 No

Precinct 104

0 Yes

2 No

Precinct 204

19 Yes

4 No

Precinct 206

17 Yes

13 No

Precinct 307

26 Yes

39 No

Precinct 308

31 Yes

19 No

Precinct 309

11 Yes

16 No

Precinct 310

8 Yes

7 No

Absentee

27 Yes

10 No

Total: 179-155