THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604300505
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 144 lines
Vote YES to maintain a good system
Concerning the May 7 referendum, civic leagues should oppose a ward system! On several occasions, our civic league has appeared before City Council to argue issues which impacted our neighborhood and the city itself. Our position and recommendations generally prevailed. Why? We certainly had strong support from our own Bayside councilman. But more importantly, every council person listened to us.
If the city was to change to a ward system, it is possible that only five of 11 council members would sincerely listen to our views. The other six, who would owe no loyalty to any of our votes, could dispense with our matters without due consideration at no risk to themselves.
Those individuals hoping for a ward system have not claimed that their existing borough council person has ever failed to loyally represent their concerns before council. The current system, which has specific voting borough representation, assures this. Ward-system proponents' sole claim of injustice is that their ``man'' didn't get elected despite receiving a majority of votes from those within his borough.
The entire scheme is devised to provide fiscal relief to certain council candidates because they would only have to concentrate on obtaining votes from a limited geographical area. That simply is not sufficient cause to reduce accountability of every council person to every citizen of our city.
This is a City Council, charged with the responsibility to protect the welfare and concerns of the entire city and all of its citizens. There is no better way to ensure this then by allowing the citizens to vote for all council members. Speaking as an individual because of our civic league policies, I strongly urge all citizens to reject the ward system concept. Vote ``Yes!'' on May 7.
Steven D. Hawthorne
President,
Pembroke Meadows Civic League
April 19
If the voters want to maintain their ``CONTROL'' over City Council, they should vote ``YES'' in the May 7 referendum on ``WARDS.''
In democracies a voting majority dictates day-to-day events of government. In Virginia Beach, it normally takes six votes for council to make a decision. Our present plan allows each of us to hold each of our 11 councilmen responsible for each of their votes. This is accomplished by our AT-LARGE system.
The ``WARDIES'' want us to give up six of our current 11 votes. They propose that we limit our votes to the mayor, three at-large, and one ward councilperson.
Under the ``WARDIES'' proposal and current law, six councilpersons could vote and raise the taxes of my WARD, even though I may not have voted for them nor be able to vote against them. It's democratic, but not for me.
Our current method of electing City Council was challenged, reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court and found to be constitutional.
Folks, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. So, vote ``YES'' to keep our present system of selecting CITY COUNCIL.
John T. Atkinson
April 18
Atkinson is the city treasurer of Virginia Beach.
On May 7, voters will be asked to vote yes or no in a referendum on the voting system to be used in city elections. A yes vote will retain the present ``at-large'' system, which allows each citizen to vote on all 11 candidates; six candidates in one election followed by five candidates in the next election. This alternating system was originally established to provide desirable continuity and to give each citizen the right to vote for, or perhaps as importantly, against any candidate citywide.
A no vote in the referendum would change our voting system to a ``ward'' system, which would reduce each citizen's votes from 11 to just five. I believe that this change would lead to the bare knuckle, divisive politics seen in the large, urban areas such as Chicago and would inevitably cause undesirable changes in the atmosphere and character of Virginia Beach.
I urge all voters to carefully and thoughtfully consider the referendum issue and to vote Yes to protect our right to vote for all candidates.
Rex Smallie
April 20
Vote NO so we can fix our election process
On May 7, Virginia Beach voters will be offered the chance to change the way we elect our City Council. The problem is that the wording on the referendum has been slanted in such a way that it is difficult to know how to vote without first studying the wording carefully.
In this case, to vote for a change is to vote ``no.'' That may not seem logical, but that is the way it is.
I, as one of many, want the opportunity to vote for and elect my own representative to City Council along with the four at-large seats. Let the people in the other boroughs have the same opportunity to have the representative of their choice. Before you vote on May 7, please read the referendum carefully and if you want the opportunity to elect your own representative from your own borough without having the voters in the rest of the city override your choice, then ``Vote No To Status Quo.''
Marjorie A. Buono
April 16
There are signs around town and stickers on advocates' lapels or car bumpers proclaiming ``Say no to the status Quo'' in voting on the referendum question. What is the status quo that Citizens for Electoral Reform are against? It is a system that:
Skews the referendum question so that you have to vote no to say yes to change in the electoral system.
Adds to the referendum question instructions on how to vote, which the State Board of Elections has declared to be improper.
Splits Trantwood precinct, when it is not necessary in the reapportionment of the boroughs (plus or minus 5 percent allowed), so that a favorite Lynnhaven Borough candidate is moved to the Virginia Beach Borough. This candidate has received a plurality in the Lynnhaven Borough each time that he has run for council but has been defeated twice by votes from other boroughs in the current all-at-large system.
Achieves a $12.1 million School Board deficit, which includes a $43,000 flag pole and malfeasance prosecution of the board.
Raises property assessments and property taxes simultaneously, the latter now a proposed 12 percent.
What do we do about this? We go to the polls and vote NO to the status quo. We tell our family and friends to vote no; we tell strangers on the street, shoppers in the stores, communicants in church, ALL TO VOTE NO!
We must regain control of our city government. We can only do it with the balanced district system. We will succeed.
Les Fenlon
April 24
Fenlon is past president of the Council of Civic Organizations.
Voting districts divisive
I'm mad as hell! Four years ago my wife and I selected Virginia Beach as our home after a lifetime of wandering. On balance, we have been happy although there have been some areas we have questioned or not been pleased with. We still thought we had made the right choice. Now we're not sure.
The City Council has chosen to create new voting/school districts. For reasons I'm not sure of, they have chosen to split my neighborhood in half! Half is in District 5 and half is in District 6. That destroys the cohesiveness of my civic league and takes my home out of the desired school district, thus reducing my property value and, for my neighbors with school-age children, sends them some distance to a school they've never heard of.
I'm outraged! I bought a high-value home in a certain school district with a cohesive neighborhood. The City Council has chosen to do away with all that. See you at the polls!
James R. Campbell
April 10 by CNB