To the editor:
The issue of the ward versus at large-system is a great example of how everyone who has an issue is correct, yet no one has the correct answer.
Ken Boschoff was correct on this one, so is Mayor Keith Hobbs.
While there are benefits to ward and at-large systems, there are a few flaws with the current ward/at-large system that should be addressed.
There are seven ward councillors who got 18,800 votes to 3,700 votes in the last election.
There are five at-large councillors receiving 13,300 to 22,000 votes to win.
One mayor got 17,000 votes in the last election to win.
There are 13 votes on council.
Each representative has an equal vote on city council.
The ward councillors are only elected by 1⁄7 of the city. Citizens cannot vote for six of them. Each ward councillor votes on city wide issues as well.
The ward councillors may win a seat by acclamation.
The majority of the council seats – seven – are elected in the ward. Only six are elected by the entire city.
There is no logical reason that a ward councillor’s vote should be equal to that of the mayor or a councillor elected by the entire city; the differences between voter support for ward councillors versus at-large councillors does not merit this.
To address the issue of name recognition voiced by Mayor Hobbs, a two-term limit to ward, or junior councillors, should be instated, as once a councillor is on city council, media attention creates a great deal of name recognition they can use against incumbents.
After two terms the ward councillor would have to run in the at-large category.
Suggestion: Since ward councillors are based on voter support and city representation, part of the entire city, then all seven ward councillors should have one vote at council meetings, and ward councillors should have a two-term limit; the system may not be broken, but we can make a good system, a better system, by listening to all the concerns and making slight adjustments; the operative phrase is “tweaking the system.”
It’s like adding a safety chain to your bracelet, or sizing a ring to make sure it fits properly so you don't lose it.
Caesar J.B. Squitti,
Thunder?Bay
