Veto Override Fails: Central’s Council Size to Stay at Five

By Dave Freneaux

    The ordinance seeking to increase the size of Central’s City Council has failed.  Council Members Messina, Washington and LoBue attempted to override the Mayor’s veto of this ordinance, but failed to garner support from either Council Member DeJohn or Council Member Moak.  A super-majority of four votes is required to override a veto by the Mayor.  Mayor Watts had vetoed the ordinance, stating that he is not in favor of bigger government for Central.

    The City Council has been at odds over this decision for months, with Council Members Washington, Messina and LoBue standing by their decision to increase the size of the Council by dividing into five Districts and adding two At-Large seats.  Council Members Moak and DeJohn supported a move to five Districts, allowing each area of the city to elect one Council Member, but have been opposed to the increased cost of adding two Council Members.

    Council Members LoBue, Messina and Washington campaigned for a change to Districts, but at the last Council meeting voted down a compromise offered by DeJohn to establish five Districts, and another compromise to move to Divisions.  Council Member Moak finally proposed that this decision be put to a vote of the people, but Messina, Washington and LoBue also voted that down.