In comments as tonight’s Falls Church City Council meeting, F.C. Vice Mayor Hal Lippman, who lost a bid for re-election in the City’s City Council election last week, lashed out at the citizens of Falls Church for the fact that only 24 percent of registered voters made it to the polls for the election on May 4. “I am appalled by the low turnout,” he said. “It is an embarrassment to the City. I am utterly puzzled at the 75 percent of registered voters who didn’t vote.”
He noted that a May 2008 election that included a referendum on City Center development drew only 30 percent, but that two years later, with the economy in the tank requiring a major tax rate increase, the turnout was even less. Lippman noted that the four Council members elected Tuesday won with 15 percent of the total votes cast in the election. “This Council acted courageously to move the City elections from May to November last year, and that will result in a significant increase in turnout.”
