Vote on Districts Delayed as Mayor Watts Requests Compromise

By Dave Freneaux

    Five Districts.  That is what the Ordinance to be introduced by Council Member Louis DeJohn at Monday Night's City Council meeting called for.  Mr. DeJohn, who initially supported City Council elections by Divisions, responded to what he says he has heard is the will of the citizens by drafting an Ordinance giving Central five Districts with one Council Member elected from each District.  Seven Council seats, five elected from Districts and two elected "At Large".  That is what Council Member Messina favors.  Mr. Messina campaigned as being in favor of Districts and served as the chair of a committee formed by Mayor Watts to provide research to the Mayor on the topic of Council elections by District.

    Mayor Watts addressed the Council before the introduction of Ordinances in an effort to bring the two conflicting ideas into one productive discussion.  His request was that the Council delay any action on Districts until additional research could be done and a workshop with additional public input could be held by the Council to allow debate of the issue and to draft an Ordinance.  The Mayor called for research to answer questions such as: What will the Justice Department be willing to approve?  What is the actual cost of adding Council Seats?  Is there a natural lack of representation for Central's more rural areas based on an analysis of the voting patterns of precincts in our City?  What problems or advantages have cities across Louisiana seen in these different forms of City Council?  What is the actual cost of seeing this process through including legal fees and the hiring of a demographer?  How will this affect the current City Council Members as it is implemented, and should that even matter?

    The Mayor acknowledged the Council's right to proceed in any way they choose, but asked that they all consider slowing this process down in order to make the best possible decision for Central.  Council Member DeJohn agreed to defer the Ordinance if the rest of the Council agreed to delay any other legislation.  Council Members LoBue, Moak and Washington supported the Mayor's request.  Council Member Messina stated that he would not agree until after he discussed the issue further with the Mayor.