1. The Geopolitics of 2012 Gresham
Oregon
Based on the Testimony Before Gresham City
Council
February 7, 2012
2. Gresham Citizen Ballot Initiative
A 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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3. Which Neighborhood Has A Voting
Majority?
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4. What does this Map Show?
Majority of council lives in one
neighborhood
Large parts of Gresham are
not represented
grossly underrepresented
negatively represented
What is the trend?
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5. City Charter Promotes Citizen
Involvement in City Governance
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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6. Important Facts
At-large system is new since 1988
District size
1987 – 6000 people
2012- 105,000+ people
40% can kill a charter amendment
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7. Unintended Consequences of At-Large
System
High cost of running for public office
Vast majority of citizens cannot find the resources to run a
successful campaign
Advantages those with wealth
Excessive influence of special interests
Uncontested council and mayoral races
Lack of representation
Less responsive to citizens
More responsive to special interests
Dilutes minority vote and voice
Low voter turnout
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8. Impact On Neighborhoods
80% of neighborhoods not geographically represented
Rockwood residents were 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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9. Citizen Voice and City Council
Accountability
At-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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10. Should We Wait for Voters 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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11. 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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12. What Can You Do?
Recruit 3-5 members of your neighborhood association to join this
ballot measure campaign
Attend City Council meetings
To show support for this citizen initiative
Give individual (three minute) testimony in support of this charter
amendment
Question council candidates about their position on this charter
amendment
Contact:
Go to Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/goodgresham
Dick Strathern at strathe38@aol.com
Mads Ledet at ledet.mads@gmail.com
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