Committee Recommends City Council with 5 Districts, 2 At-Large

7-Member Body Would Reflect Both District and Citywide Views, Proponents Say

CENTRAL — After six public hearings and two votes, the Central Mayor’s Committee on Reapportionment agreed Tuesday night to support a plan that would create a seven-member City Council. Five members of the City Council would be elected from single-member districts and two at-large citywide.

Councilman Wayne Messina, who served as chairman of the committee, did not vote but said he supports the committee’s recommendations.

Four members of the committee supported the 5+2 plan.  Two committee members wanted five single-member districts with no at-large representatives, and one committee member favored having five members elected at large from separate designated seats.

Messina said the committee held public hearings on Feb. 8, March 6, April 17, Aug. 17, Aug. 24, and Aug. 30.  “We had more than 100 citizens participate in the past three meetings, and we are very grateful to everyone who came to express their views.”

Messina said he is preparing a report on the committee’s recommendations, which he will submit to Mayor Mac Watts for his consideration.  “I hope the Mayor and the Council will respect the decisions of this committee, which has worked very hard.”