restoring district representation 5.21.12
DESCRIPTION
Wednesday Presentation to RockwoodTRANSCRIPT
Gresham 2010 Census & Geographic Representation by Councilor
Residence• Rockwood – 15914• North Central – 11452• Kelly Creek – 9243• Centennial – 8905• Southwest – 7774• Northwest – 7278 VI - 14.3%
• Powell Valley – 6304 VI - 14.3% • Northeast – 6179• North Gresham – 5730• Wilkes East – 5570• Gresham Butte – 5398 VI - 57.1% • Mt. Hood – 4850• Central City – 3433• Hollybrook -3354 VI - 14.3%
• Asert – 3250• Gresham Pleasant Valley – 177• (VI =Voting Impact on City Council)
04/10/23Restoring voting districts - Dick Strathern at [email protected]
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Restoring Districts by Charter Amendment
• Proposed Amendment– If amended, Section 7 of the Gresham Charter would read:
• “The council shall consist of a mayor elected at large and one councilor elected and residing in each of six districts.”
• Recruiting Diverse Petition Signature Team• Recommending Independent Redistricting Commission• A Lit Fuse
– Current electoral system of non geographic representation promotes a centralized elite having exclusive power
– Special interests interaction and influence usually unseen significantly reduces citizen interaction and influence
– Raising citizen awareness of the need for true representation– Ballot Box Revolt
– Promoting high voter turnout by direct engagement of citizens and making elections meaningful at the local level
04/10/23Restoring voting districts - Dick Strathern at [email protected]
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Local Government and the Courts
• Courts strongly recommend single member districts to remedy Voter Rights Act Violations
• Gresham rejects all single member districts through citizen initiative charter amendment by 208 votes “simple majority” in 1986 and installs exclusive at-large voting system
• The Gresham Challenge– Election System that meets changing demographics– Open and Transparent government
04/10/23Restoring voting districts - Dick Strathern at [email protected]
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Two Types of Single Member Districts
• Residency Districts and True Electoral Districts• Benefits of True Electoral Districts
– Population size represented reduced to 18,000 from 107,000 making engagement and influence more likely
– Councilors and voters reside in same district– Balanced and diverse representation– Responsive and accountable to voter voice– Reduces likelihood of running unopposed– Eliminates a voting majority residing in a single neighborhood– Greatly reduces cost of campaigning and special interest
influence– Frees Mayor to lead city wide community
04/10/23Restoring voting districts - Dick Strathern at [email protected]
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Rationale for Selecting Specific Ballot Measure Plan
• Rational for Selecting the 6-1 Plan• Utilize Fair Vote Criteria to reach decision for SMD
• Representativeness, constituents connection, voter turnout, manageable campaign costs etc
• Rationale for NOT selecting the “Mixed Model” Electoral System– Seen as discriminatory and disenfranchising of voter
middle class majority and voting minorities• Returning Control Back to Gresham Voters
• Critical Action Steps• What you can do to help!
04/10/23Restoring voting districts - Dick Strathern at [email protected]
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What Is Needed!• Citizen involvement: Every signature and vote is
essential!• See single member districts as fair representation of
Gresham’s growing and diverse population• For this charter amendment to be added to the ballot we
need 1500+ valid signatures• Once on the ballot we need 60% of the votes cast to vote
YES to the measure• Citizens to step up and become candidates and others to
support them• Recruit your civic or private organization or yourself to
join the Campaign Committee for Restoring District Representation
04/10/23Restoring voting districts - Dick Strathern at [email protected]
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