Meagan Casey was elected to serve on the Yarmouth Town Council last year, a position she loves. But Ms. Casey, a high school Latin teacher, won’t be able to run for re-election next year if a new amendment to the town charter is allowed to stand
The charter amendment, adopted in November 2018, bars school and town employees from serving on the town council. This includes teachers, custodial workers, even volunteer firefighters (who draw a small stipend from the town).
The First Amendment protects the right to campaign for public office, to serve in public office, and to vote for the candidate that best represents one’s views. Yet the charter amendment throws those rights out the window. And it will keep a large group of Yarmouth residents with relevant experiences and perspectives from serving on the council.
On August 27, 2019, we filed a challenge to the amendment on behalf of six Yarmouth residents. They believe, like we do, that towns should be encouraging people to run for public office, not banning them from doing so.
