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The Geopolitics of 2012 Gresham
             Oregon
   Based on the Testimony Before Gresham City
                     Council
                 February 7, 2012
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




2   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability             03/14/12
Which Neighborhood Has A Voting
    Majority?




3   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability   03/14/12
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?


4   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability   03/14/12
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?




5   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability   03/14/12
Important Facts
     At-large system is new since 1988
     District size
         1987 – 6000 people
         2012- 105,000+ people
         40% can kill a charter amendment




6   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability   03/14/12
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

7   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability                    03/14/12
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




8   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability            03/14/12
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




9   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability                   03/14/12
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?




10   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability            03/14/12
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?


11   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability                03/14/12
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




12   Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability                        03/14/12

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The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)

  • 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 2 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 3. Which Neighborhood Has A Voting Majority? 3 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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? 4 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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? 5 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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 6 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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 7 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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 8 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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 9 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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? 10 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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? 11 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12
  • 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 12 Citizen Voice and City Council Accountability 03/14/12