Prevent Divisiveness

Sun., Oct. 17, 1999

By Chris Peck chrisp@spokesman.com

Divisiveness in local government hurts Spokane and we don’t need more of it. Yet if Proposition 1 passes, Spokane voters can expect more infighting and turf-protecting down at City Hall.

Proposition 1 would force City Council members to be elected by district and would not allow voters in Spokane to ever cast a ballot on a full slate of council candidates.

A council-by-district format means council members no longer would have to protect their political hides throughout the city, but would feel terribly beholden to their individual districts.

In short, this is the worst of both worlds.

Imagine the fights over paving of streets, police protection, and land use. Picture our neighborhoods, pitted against one another. Think of the pet projects and pork barrel politics that could be pursued at the expense of citywide packages like the parks bond voters just approved.

Proposition 1 is billed as a way to increase representation. It doesn’t do that. Rather, Proposition 1 raises the likelihood that council members would be at the mercy of small groups that build narrow footholds within the three proposed council districts.

Even if two-thirds of the city voters felt a council member was out of step with the best interests of the city as a whole, that council member could stay in office by simply kowtowing to special interests in the one district where the candidate was elected.

The district-by-district council system became legendary for abuse and corruption in Chicago and other large cities at the turn of the century.

That’s why it isn’t used much anymore and why Spokane shouldn’t embrace such a system on Nov. 2.

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