Email sent to CRC - FW Memo for CRC April meetingGood Afternoon, CRC Members,
Below is an email from Michael Hoffmann for your review.
Thank you,
Donna
From: michaelhoffmann@comcast.net <michaelhoffmann@comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2024 5:08 PM
To: Bartle, Donna <dbartle@coab.us>
Subject: Second submission: Memo for CRC April meeting
Mrs. Bartle -- Would you please circulate the memo below to CRC members via email?
Thanks,
MH
______________________________________________
Electoral change proposed
Here's what the electoral proposal of the Chair, which received a unanimous vote of CRC members in attendance at the 3/27/24 meeting, means: The four district representatives in AB will
no longer be elected by the city at large but solely by the voters who reside in that district or precinct. There will be two at-large seats added to the Commission, which will dilute
the vote of individual districts, but especially Precinct 1312 located west of Mayport Rd.
Alternative
The west side wants an end to at-large voting. Two former AB mayors want additional seats to accommodate more talent for local government. The proposal by the chair adds two at-large
seats, which is vote dilution, period. Instead, I propose adding two district seats to the existing four district seats; the mayor would continue to be elected at large. This will lower
the costs of campaigning for the district Commission seats and enhance constituent interaction for Commissioners as the number of voters per district will be smaller.
Reconsideration
The panel members who voted on this measure have the right to re-visit this measure at the April meeting. I hope they will do so and that a discussion will ensue on the merits of the
chair’s proposal, which dilutes the vote, versus a system of direct election that does not dilute the vote, adds two districts seats, and creates a level playing field.
Election timing
The city attorney will need to research how to get this question on a separate ballot line in Nov. 2024, when there may be the greatest turnout of all time: It can’t get much fairer
for a plebiscite. (The Supervisor of Elections previously stated that a proposed referendum must appear on the next ballot after the referendum is approved by the Commission. Putting
the question on the primary ballot historically results in reduced turnout across the board. )
Turnout
AB's election schedule now lines up with the November general election calendar. Turnout in Precinct 1312 remains the lowest of four AB precincts, but our numbers can no longer be used
to rationalize vote dilution or gerrymandering in the electoral structure.
-- 2020 primary election turnout for the four AB precincts was 26.4, 35.2, 26.0, and 18.2 (precinct 1312/Marsh Oaks).
-- 2020 general election turnout for the four AB precincts was 82.6, 86.4, 82.8, and 72.1 (1312).
-- 2022 primary election turnout for the four AB precincts was 40.4, 50.4, 41, and 28.4 (1312).
-- 2023 spring COJ municipal election turnout for the four AB precincts was 45.0, 57.3, 46.7, and 30.7 (1312).