Lawyer’s Initiative Would Alter Election

Fri., Jan. 9, 1998

From Staff Reports

Attorney Steve Eugster filed an initiative petition with the city of Spokane Thursday that calls for council members to be elected by district.

The measure would require the city to be divided into six districts, with one council member elected from each area.

District representation is intended to diversify Spokane’s elected officials, Eugster said.

“Most of the people who are elected to our City Council basically represent the same point of view. That’s because they come from the same area,” Eugster said.

“By making individuals come from various areas … we end up with people who express some different points of view, rather than a narrow point of view.”

Council members could approve the petition’s wording and return it to Eugster to gather signatures. Or they could forgo the signature gathering, adopt the petition, and put it before voters this fall - an unlikely move.

If Eugster’s initiative makes the fall ballot and wins voter approval, new council elections would be held in January.

, DataTimes

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