In two short months, voters in Everett will decide if they want to forego electing all city council members at-large and make a change to electing some of them from geographic districts. To do this is a two-step process; here’s how it works.
Proposition 1: Voting to approve Prop. 1 means that you are in favor of districting. Prop. 1 is written in legal language; it must be approved to amend the city charter to permit the formation of voting districts for the city council. Many cities in Washington have adopted some form of districting for city councils.
Proposition 2 provides two options for that districting:
2A is for five districts, with two at-large members. This choice divides the city into five districts of equal population where the voters in each district elect a person from that district to represent them. All city voters elect the two at-large members. This plan holds the promise of more fair and equitable representation for all voters in the city with no possibility that one district hold a majority of seats on the council.
2B is for four districts and three at-large members. A major flaw in this plan is that it would permit one district of the city to control a majority of the seven council seats, one from the district plus three at-large seats. At the present time, four members of the council reside in northwest Everett.
Let’s bring more equitable representation to all people living in Everett. Approve Prop 1— Vote YES on Prop 2A.
Lois Wentink
Everett
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