EVERETT — The City Council’s districting proposal won’t face a competing measure on November’s ballot.
Everett Districts Now, the independent group with its own districting plan, has set aside its initiative, said Megan Dunn, one of the leaders for the effort. Its plan designated five council districts.
However, the group will keep spreading its message to voters before the general election, Dunn said Monday.
“We don’t want to make it any more confusing,” she said.
The Everett City Council has seven at-large positions. Everett Districts Now and the council want to give voters the opportunity to change how those positions are elected.
Each drafted potential ballot measures that would have created geographic districts within the city. Some of the council seats would be elected directly from those districts.
Now, only the council’s measure is moving forward, after its members acted on feedback from Everett Districts Now. Last week, the council voted 7-0 to place its districting proposal on the ballot.
The city’s measure has two options. Option A includes five district seats and two at-large. Option B has four district positions and three at-large.
Everett Districts Now has long campaigned on having at least five districts. Dunn said the group will host events and knock on doors to campaign for Option A.
Before deciding not to compete with the city’s measure, supporters of districting had been gathering signatures to get their measure on the ballot.
Information about the signature tally was not available Monday. As of July 10, the group had about 3,000, Dunn said.
A total of 3,500 signatures was needed to qualify for the general election. The effort was on track to reach that mark by the deadline, which was noon Monday, according to a news release.
Joseph Thompson: 425-339-3430; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @JoeyJThomp.
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