Tamir Nolley asks why there was no move to have early elections in 1983 and 1993.
1. Council members served two-year terms in 1983, so there was always another election right away after redistricting. 2. And there was an election in 1993. That was the point. But four-year terms don't match up with ten-year census periods. When the voters approved the charter amendment for four-year terms for the council members, the plan should have been to have terms like the MN Senate -- four year, four year, and two year. The two-year term is to do the catchup related to the census and redistricting that happens every ten years. But the amendment simply called for four-year terms. I'm trying to remember when this charter amendment passed. I think maybe it was the 1989 election. Or maybe 1987 effective the 1989 election. I suspect someone will remember. 3. Unless fixed, this is a problem that will happen every twenty years, not every ten years. Several other cities in the state will have this problem after the next census, I'm given to understand, such as St Paul and Duluth, that do not have this problem this year. Regardless of this lawsuit, I think there are things that should happen so it doesn't occur again: 1. Change the charter to 4-4-2 terms, like the MN Senate has. This could be done in two ways: the charter commission acting to put the issue before the voters or the council enacting it on a 13-0 vote. 2. Change state law to allow municipalities to redistrict when they're ready, rather than be required to wait till after the legislature redistricts. Had this law not been in effect, the council could have run in new wards in 2001. I'm putting in a bill to do this. On another note, someone keeps asking why the Greens weren't represented on the redistricting panel. It seems to me that the Greens on the city council booted this themselves, since they control the "minority caucus" and a Green Party council member is the "minority leader" of the council. The minority caucus appoints someone to the redistricting board, and they did not appoint a Green Party member, nor did they appoint a person of color. The way I see it, there is no one to blame for this one except themselves. You certainly can't blame the dems for this. linda higgins senator, north and downtown mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
