Patterson voters soundly rejected a ballot measure on Tuesday, Nov. 2, that would have lengthened the mayor’s term from two to four years. Measure M failed with 61 percent opposition.

The local proposition appeared on the ballot after receiving support from the City Council in August. No one had spent any money campaigning on behalf of or against the measure.

Mayor Becky Campo, who opted not to retain her seat this year, supported the measure, saying that the mayor has the same amount of voting power as other council members and that it would make sense for the length of their terms to be the same. Former Mayor Wade Bingham, who initially supported the two-year mayoral term when it was implemented in the 1980s, also supported the measure, saying he has since determined that it can take a mayor two years just to get up to speed on matters.

However, local residents who oppose the measure said the shorter term can help keep candidates accountable.

If the measure had been approved, it would have taken effect in 2012.