Dorian Eder: I share some of your concerns about PR. Especially as a resident of Northeast, which is already seriously under-represented in local government at-large bodies, I fear the Southwest would simply dominate the council because they have higher turnout. The areas of our city with the lowest voter turnout (Near North, Dinkytown), could become the next 'flyover country'. Those seeking election wouldn't have to spend their time or resources trying to gain their (relatively) small number of votes. Ask anyone who's run for an at-large office lately where they put their time and money.
Response: I too would like to ensure geographic representation in our city council because, as I have posted before, our city breaks down geographically by race/ethnicity and class. I understand that in a PR system, a group or party could run on geographic, race/ethnic, poverty, or related platforms to help ensure geographic balance, but I don't know how this would be GUARANTEED. London, which recently implemented IRV for mayor and PR for city council, solved this problem with mixed PR, in which the council is composed of BOTH district based and proportional representation seats. Each voter votes for two people to represent them. As I understand the outcome, the system achieved the desired result of ensuring district-based or geographical representation AND representation from minority parties (in proportion to their share of the vote), which otherwise would not have had representation. See: http://www.fairvote.org/op_eds/london_city_council.htm This seems like an approach worthy of study for Minneapolis. Jeanne Massey Kingfield REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
