A citizen coalition in Gresham, Oregon is pursuing a ballot measure to amend the city charter to require city council members to be elected from at least six geographical districts. Currently, the majority of the city council lives in one neighborhood, leaving many parts of Gresham without proper representation. In 1986, Gresham voters approved electing city councilors at-large instead of from districts, concentrating political power among certain neighborhoods. The proposed amendment aims to increase citizen involvement and accountability of representatives to specific areas.

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

2. 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. ELECTION OF GRESHAM CITY
COUNCILORS – MAY 1986
 Question: Shall city councilors be elected from the city at
large instead of from six small council districts?
 This measure would amend the Gresham City Charter to
elect city councilors at large
 League Summary: Gresham city councilors are now elected
to two-year terms from six councilor districts, each district
having approximately 6,000 residents. Presently, only
registered voters in a district may vote for candidates
running in the district.
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4. SUPPORTERS ARGUMENTS FOR A
“YES” VOTE
 1. Since all six city councilors make decisions which affect all
Gresham citizens, voters should be allowed to vote for all six
positions, not just one
 2. Districting restricts choices available to voters. Several
qualified candidates may reside in the same zone, but only
one could be elected.
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5. OPPONENTS’ ARGUMENTS FOR A
“NO” VOTE
 1. Election by district not only creates a more diverse
council, but makes each councilor more responsive to
his/her given area.
 2. Districting reduces the cost of running for election and
also reduces the influence of special interests.
 Let’s fast forward to 2012 and see what the consequences are
of this vote!
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6. WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A
VOTING MAJORITY?
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7. 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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8. CHARTER PROMOTES CITIZEN
INVOLVEMENT IN 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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9. IMPORTANT FACTS
 At-large system is new since 1988
 District size
 1987 – 6000 people
 2012- 105,000+ people
 SUPERMAJORITY now in control
 40% of Electorate can kill a Charter
Amendment
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10. CONSEQUENCES OF GRESHAM
VOTING 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 neighborhood and minority vote and voice
 Low voter turnout
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11. IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS
 80% of neighborhoods not geographically represented
 Gresham Butte Council Majority unfamiliar with many
neighborhood issues and concerns
 Rockwood residents were and are 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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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
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13. SHOULD WE WAIT FOR VOTER
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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14. 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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15. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
 Recruit 3-5 friends and/or 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: facebook.com/goodgresham
 Or use email: goodgresham@gmail.com
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