In 1999 we drafted a charter amendment that would do just this -- created a
"mixed member proportional" system. I think a charter amendment woul dbe the
only way to reform the way we elect our city council.
I think that what we are doing now..raising this issue in this forum and
elsewhere..is an excellent idea. A first positive step would be an education
campaign to let people understand the postives and negatives of different voting
systems. Ultimately I woul dlike to see the voters choose from a few well
understood options.
The proposal we were promoting a few years back included reducing the number of
single member wards to 6 and having them match the park and rec districts. Then
we wanted to create seven at large or city-wide seats to be elected
proportionally based on open lists. This woul dhave kept the council size the
same.
I think that this does offer a good mix of geographic and idealogical
representation. I also think that this could be accomplished in other ways.
It would also be possible, if people were willing to make the council larger,
to keep the current 13 wards and add a few city-wide seats.
I would be very curious to learn what other people think might make the most
sense.
In message <006501c0ade7$d1c6ef20$d7826520@ibm22761541087> "Arthur LaRue"
writes:
> A few people have mentioned a system of proportional representation (which
> is what this talk of at-large seats stems from) which is commonly known as
> "mixed": having some seats be elected from wards or districts, while others
> are "at large". This seems to me a good solution: if everyone were "at
> large" there might be little connection to the local neighborhoods, and,
> conceivably, the entire council could focus on the interests of one
> group.(hmm...sounds slightly familiar?)
> With a mixed member system some reps are accountable to a locale, and a
> population; therefore (in theory) would advocate on behalf of their
> particular constituents.
> Who can tell me what structural changes would need to occur to put this into
> effect? Charter? State law?
>
> Arthur LaRue
> 6-6/Cedar-Riverside
>
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Cam Gordon
Candidate for Minneapolis City Council,
Ward 2
914 Franklin Terrace
Mpls. MN 55406-1101
(612) 332-6210
http://www.camgordon.org
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