Council Districts – Vote or Let the People Decide

    Every council and mayoral candidate in the recent city elections ran supporting council districts of some sort.  Having watched the rush to fund an expanded police department based in large part on “That was what the chief ran on,”, I would expect the same sense of urgency on the issue of districts, but I have not seen it.  It is time for the council and mayor to act.  Vote or let the people decide.
    Our city council has the sole authority to give us district representation. It does not have to go to a vote of the people.  The only real question here is whether to also expand the council to seven seats by adding two “at large” members.
    The majority of the current city council and the mayor campaigned on a seven member council, with five districts and two at large.  While I believe expanding the size of government is a waste, and at the risk of this council doing so, I still believe we are owed a vote on districts.  Vote or let the people decide.
    My preference is an immediate vote of the council to change from five at large to five districts, then letting the people vote in the big election in December as to whether to add two at-large seats.  Putting this on the December ballot would likely cost less than $3,000, a small price to pay to actually let the people decide.
    This issue has been debated almost into extinction, and six separate public meetings and two council meetings were held to discuss it.  The one thing I would least like to see is another committee, another “study”, and more delays.  This would certainly push the issue beyond the October 21st deadline for putting it on the December ballot so inexpensively.
    The fact is, 5 districts, 5 at large, or 5 plus 2 are ALL legitimate forms of government and this comes down to opinion.  If the council and mayor are worried about doing the will of the people, put two items on the December ballot SEPARATELY, the change to five districts and the adding of two at large seats.  I am confident the people will vote for five districts and against expanding the council size.  Committee meetings are no substitute for an actual vote of those of us being represented.
    Council, if you will not let the people decide, then just go ahead and vote and the five of you decide.  That is your right.  Whether you vote or whether you let the people decide, if you do it now, while the December election is an inexpensive way to actually hear form those who elected you, that would be Good News for a Great City.