City of Kingston... at-large elections?

[Florence]

The title on the lead article of Kingston EMC(would someone tell me what that means?) is "Former civic leaders say 'new' city is broken;at-large elections needed to fix problem'. No matter what you think of this initiative it is interesting to think about the number of current councillors who would retain their seats under at-large elections. None? So much for continuity. Perhaps the 'former civic leaders' don't want any continuity. But if the current council has to vote on this it will NOT pass. Mayor, Smith and Foster will vote for it. Are there any others? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!

[Lydia]

I have been asking various people about this issue. My house is divided.

An e-mail I recently recieved indicated the following.

Some objectivity is needed. Opinions are always plentiful, and if it comes down to 'opinion' then it is very much a matter of a plebiscite or referendum.

Representation by district sounds good but the way it has work (and the record speaks for itself), Councillors are greatly influenced by what their constituents want. If Councillors were elected by district AND free to vote as they see fit rather than being threatened and badgered by their constituents come the next election, it would be great. But that is not what has happened. Kingston has spiraled into the vortex of where numbers matter, vitreous comments bog down positive thinking, and Kingston slows to a crawl when it should be speeding ahead. Councillors are too concerned about getting re-elected based on their constituents. Their approach might be entirely different when competing across the entire electorate for a seat. They could actually disagree with someoneès position saying they are in the minority of what Kingstonians want!

I believe (for the third and final time) in the principle of "All for one and one for all". Councillors should and must vote with their conscience of what is in the best interest of the community. Since the electorate is not willing to free them to vote in this manner, I would say 'Elections at large' may be in the best interest of Kingston and the greater Kingston area.

[Lydia]

As I understand it anyone who is looking forward to run needs to put forth their submissions starting January 2010.

This council will need to decided how the election ballets are going to created. If any of you have any options you would like to express, you are more then welcomed to send your councilors an e-mail directly. I believe we need to be more accountable to our elected officials about what we honestly think.

Here is where I stand on the issue:
I believe there is two sides to both processes. (positive and negative)
I will be asking all the councilors for reasons to vote one way or another. The reasons they have heard so far will be placed on the Kingston Electors website so that Taxpayers can make a reasonable decision on the issue. Keep in mind folks, that Councilers normally if not always vote according to what their people in their district wish. Remember I said NORMALLY.lol lol

I know that they are hearing from people who are pro and con elections at large.

My household is divided on this issue. My husband wants Elections at large. I perfer to have a councilor who takes only my own district into consideration as I don't live in other people's district. However, after speaking to some of my members of the Loyalist Cataraqui Community Association, the majority of them would prefer Elections at Large.

As Past-Chairperson the the Loyalist Cataraqui Community Association, I needed to let you know where that group stood so FAR and again I am alone on my position.