Based on the Testimony Before Gresham City Council

February 7, 2012

The Geopolitics of 2012 Gresham Oregon

CITIZEN BALLOT INITIATIVEA newly formed coalition of citizens is

pursuing a ballot measure that would amend the City Charter to require the majority of city council members to be elected from at least six geographic districts

This citizen initiative is seeking the support of a broad coalition of community business and civic organizations and look forward to Gresham City Council joining this effort

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ELECTION OF GRESHAM CITY COUNCILORS – MAY 1986Question: Shall city councilors be elected

from the city at large instead of from six small council districts?

This measure would amend the Gresham City Charter to elect city councilors at large

League Summary: Gresham city councilors are now elected to two-year terms from six councilor districts, each district having approximately 6,000 residents. Presently, only registered voters in a district may vote for candidates running in the district.

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SUPPORTERS ARGUMENTS FOR A “YES” VOTE1. Since all six city councilors make

decisions which affect all Gresham citizens, voters should be allowed to vote for all six positions, not just one

2. Districting restricts choices available to voters. Several qualified candidates may reside in the same zone, but only one could be elected.

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OPPONENTS’ ARGUMENTS FOR A “NO” VOTE1. Election by district not only creates a

more diverse council, but makes each councilor more responsive to his/her given area.

2. Districting reduces the cost of running for election and also reduces the influence of special interests.

Let’s fast forward to 2012 and see what the consequences are of this vote!

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WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A VOTING MAJORITY?

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WHAT DOES THIS MAP SHOW?Majority of council lives in one neighborhood

Large parts of Gresham arenot represented grossly underrepresented negatively represented

What is the trend?

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CHARTER PROMOTES CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNANCE

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The mayor and city manager are mandated to report annually to City Council progress on citizen involvement (Measure No. 26-86; 1998)

Would districts increase citizen involvement?

Does at-large voting decrease involvement?

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IMPORTANT FACTSAt-large system is new since 1988District size

1987 – 6000 people2012- 105,000+ people

SUPERMAJORITY now in control40% of Electorate can kill a

Charter Amendment

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CONSEQUENCES OF GRESHAM VOTING SYSTEM

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High cost of running for public office Vast majority of citizens cannot find the

resources to run a successful campaignAdvantages those with wealth Excessive influence of special interests

Uncontested council and mayoral racesLack of representation

Less responsive to citizensMore responsive to special interestsDilutes neighborhood and minority vote and

voiceLow voter turnout

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IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS80% of neighborhoods not geographically

representedGresham Butte Council Majority unfamiliar

with many neighborhood issues and concernsRockwood residents were and are

inadequately represented on the Urban Renewal Citizen Advisory Committee

Long history of City Council not engaging or being influenced by neighborhoods

Also, there are a significant number of neighborhood associations that are inactive

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CITIZEN VOICE AND CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNTABILITYAt-large election system

Means all 105,000+ of us are represented by every council member

Fails to make any one council member responsible and accountable for our district concerns, or those of our neighbors

No one council member is responsible or accountable to a particular citizen

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SHOULD WE WAIT FOR VOTER RIGHTS ACT LITIGATION? Discrimination today is more subtle than

the visible methods used in1965. However the effects and results of “exclusive” at-large districts are the same

Do we in Gresham prefer to eliminate “exclusive” at-large voting districts and replace them with a “mixed form” of election system?

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THE GEOPOLITICS OF POLITICAL POWER

Do citizens understand the potential discriminatory and negative impact of a majority of City Council and the Mayor residing in a concentrated area and single neighborhood and/or few neighborhoods?

How many citizens are aware that the city charter of 1978 election process had six districts and only the Mayor elected at-large.

Are we going to be a democracy in this city or are we going to be a democracy in one neighborhood?

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WHAT CAN YOU DO?Recruit 3-5 friends and/or members of your

neighborhood association to join this ballot measure campaign

Attend City Council meetings To show support for this citizen initiativeGive individual (three minute) testimony in

support of this charter amendmentQuestion council candidates about their

position on this charter amendmentContact:

Go to Facebook: facebook.com/goodgresham Or use email: goodgresham@gmail.com

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