posting
07-06-2009, 11:05 PM
Evaluating How City Councilors Are Elected
On July 14, a motion will be introduced at city council that could produce profound changes in the way Councilors are elected in Kingston. The Portsmouth Villagers Community Association executive urges residents to carefully consider this initiative.
Under the current system, Councilors are elected to represent a particular District. In addition, as members of City Council, they are explicitly charged with the responsibility for attending to the interests of the entire city.
In the proposed At-Large system, City Councilors would be elected from a list of candidates who would seek electoral support from across the entire city. Their responsibility would be to the city as a whole and ways of addressing “neighbourhood” issues are not apparent.
Proponents of the two electoral systems are asserting many claims and counter claims about the advantages and disadvantages of each system. It would be prudent for municipal electors to challenge and evaluate these claims.
The PVCA executive believes that the existing District system is better suited to meet the needs of municipal government in Kingston. The full executive came to this unanimous decision after meeting to review the two electoral systems.
Without holding a general meeting on the issue, the executive cannot claim to represent the opinion of the PVCA membership and a meeting is not feasible. Thus in writing the Mayor and councilors to advise them of our support for retaining the District system of electing councilors, we have made clear that this opinion represents that of the executive.
We urge all residents who have opinions, questions or concerns about the issue to take time to make their views known. Councilor Gerretsen can be reached at mgerretesen@cityofkingston.ca or 613-542-5748. The motion will be moved by Councilor Foster (lfoster@cityofkingston.ca 613-546-4984) and seconded by Councilor Smith (esmith@cityofkingston.ca 613-546-4291 ext 1517).
Since this is a City wide issue we suggest you send your views to all members of Council They can be contacted at:
Mayor Rosen
hrosen@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-4291 ext 1400
Councilor Glover
bglover@cityofkingston.ca
613-549-1900
Councilor Hector
dhector@cityofkingston.ca
613-634-1732
Councilor MacLeod
jmacleod-kane@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-9836
Councilor Osanic
losanic@cityofkingston.ca
613-389-7336
Councilor Hutchison
rhutchison@cityofkingston.ca
613-544-3515
Councilor Matheson
rmatheson@cityofkingston.ca
613-384-7717
Councilor Garrison
sgarrison@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-2450
Councilor Meers
smeers@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-4188
Councilor Schmolka
vschmolka@cityofkingston.ca
613-549-1707
Please feel free to contact members of the PVCA executive if you wish to do so.
Yours truly,
Portsmouth Villagers Community Association Executive
Jim Cannon
549-8507
cannonj@queensu.ca
Suzanne Hamilton
549-8006
suzanne_4@sympatico.ca
Bob Brooks
544-3928
schellbrooks@cogeco.ca
Liz Schell
544-3928
schellbrooks@cogeco.ca
Donna Gallagher
546-1524
vanwerin@queensu.ca
Nancy Mucklow
541-1890
nancy@mucklowedit.com
David Grier
542-9482
davidgrier@hotmail.com
Steve Watts
546-5973
swatts_3@sympatico.ca
On July 14, a motion will be introduced at city council that could produce profound changes in the way Councilors are elected in Kingston. The Portsmouth Villagers Community Association executive urges residents to carefully consider this initiative.
Under the current system, Councilors are elected to represent a particular District. In addition, as members of City Council, they are explicitly charged with the responsibility for attending to the interests of the entire city.
In the proposed At-Large system, City Councilors would be elected from a list of candidates who would seek electoral support from across the entire city. Their responsibility would be to the city as a whole and ways of addressing “neighbourhood” issues are not apparent.
Proponents of the two electoral systems are asserting many claims and counter claims about the advantages and disadvantages of each system. It would be prudent for municipal electors to challenge and evaluate these claims.
The PVCA executive believes that the existing District system is better suited to meet the needs of municipal government in Kingston. The full executive came to this unanimous decision after meeting to review the two electoral systems.
Without holding a general meeting on the issue, the executive cannot claim to represent the opinion of the PVCA membership and a meeting is not feasible. Thus in writing the Mayor and councilors to advise them of our support for retaining the District system of electing councilors, we have made clear that this opinion represents that of the executive.
We urge all residents who have opinions, questions or concerns about the issue to take time to make their views known. Councilor Gerretsen can be reached at mgerretesen@cityofkingston.ca or 613-542-5748. The motion will be moved by Councilor Foster (lfoster@cityofkingston.ca 613-546-4984) and seconded by Councilor Smith (esmith@cityofkingston.ca 613-546-4291 ext 1517).
Since this is a City wide issue we suggest you send your views to all members of Council They can be contacted at:
Mayor Rosen
hrosen@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-4291 ext 1400
Councilor Glover
bglover@cityofkingston.ca
613-549-1900
Councilor Hector
dhector@cityofkingston.ca
613-634-1732
Councilor MacLeod
jmacleod-kane@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-9836
Councilor Osanic
losanic@cityofkingston.ca
613-389-7336
Councilor Hutchison
rhutchison@cityofkingston.ca
613-544-3515
Councilor Matheson
rmatheson@cityofkingston.ca
613-384-7717
Councilor Garrison
sgarrison@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-2450
Councilor Meers
smeers@cityofkingston.ca
613-546-4188
Councilor Schmolka
vschmolka@cityofkingston.ca
613-549-1707
Please feel free to contact members of the PVCA executive if you wish to do so.
Yours truly,
Portsmouth Villagers Community Association Executive
Jim Cannon
549-8507
cannonj@queensu.ca
Suzanne Hamilton
549-8006
suzanne_4@sympatico.ca
Bob Brooks
544-3928
schellbrooks@cogeco.ca
Liz Schell
544-3928
schellbrooks@cogeco.ca
Donna Gallagher
546-1524
vanwerin@queensu.ca
Nancy Mucklow
541-1890
nancy@mucklowedit.com
David Grier
542-9482
davidgrier@hotmail.com
Steve Watts
546-5973
swatts_3@sympatico.ca