Laserfiche WebLink
Dear Council members, <br />As to the legal threat from a special interest attorney in Southern California challenging the current at -large <br />method of electing members to the City Council, I wanted to weigh in with a couple points. First, I would <br />suggest that private polling of the community will demonstrate that a significant majority of the electorate <br />would not want to give up the right to elect all seven Council members in exchange for having a district <br />representative. A big loss in voting power which fortunately under Redwood City's charter would be tested at <br />the ballot box. Second, there is no evidence statewide that district elections have produced more minority <br />candidates or more contested races. In fact, the evidence shows that "safe" seats are more easily achieved with <br />district elections. Unfortunately, absent a vote of the people on this proposition, other districts in this county <br />have been forced to make the change because the legal bar to challenge is extremely high. <br />Finally, I do not know any neighborhoods in the city that have been "neglected" under the present system. I <br />would submit that the current Council is responsive and accountable to the entire community. Voters have an <br />opportunity every two years in contested races to consider re-electing incumbents who rarely run unopposed or <br />choosing challengers with new ideas. This year is certainly no exception. <br />Thanks for listening and doing the right thing on Monday. <br />John Ward <br />