THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409170102
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Let the voters and the General Assembly decide voter representation.
1. The 1990 census showed enormous disparity in the populations of the Virginia Beach boroughs.
2. A very capable and representative committee, appointed early in 1991, recommended the balanced/district system, which calls for seven equal population boroughs, each electing its own councilperson, plus four councilpersons including the mayor elected at-large.
3. The Council of Civic Organizations, after exhaustive discussion, voted overwhelmingly to support the balanced/district system.
4. On Sept. 21, 1991, the CCO made its first of many appearances at hearings before City Council on the balanced/district system.
5. After constant rejection by a 6-to-5 majority of council, the CCO decided to take the issue to the voters.
6. On Sept. 20, 1993, the CCO initiated a petition to place the issue in referendum at the May 3 election.
7. On March 1, 1994, the CCO obtained more than the required 22,759 signatures to place the issue on the May 3 ballot, indicating strong popular support.
8. At the May 3 referendum, a clear majority of the voters approved the balanced/district sys-tem.
9. Next step is for City Council to honor the will of the majority and request that the General Assembly change the city's charter to incorporate the balanced/district system for council election.
10. Failure of council to honor the will of the majority of the voters may be unconstitutional and result in a lawsuit. Failure to honor the will of the majority would also make a mockery of the democratic process.
11. The issue here is honoring a bona fide election. Let the General Assembly decide what is fair, equitable and constitutional.
Ernest E. Ball
CCO Reapportionment Committee 1989
Beach Borough by CNB