THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501130286
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Before the General Assembly goes messing around with this city's charter, let's take stock: The number of people making a major decision about the future of Virginia Beach's 411,000 citizens dwindles mightly. Unnecessary mind-reading mounts.
Last May, 28 percent of registered voters participated in the municipal elections. Even fewer addressed the referendum on electoral reform. Currently, every voter votes in each of the 11 City Council races. The referendum proposed a charter change that (a) would have voters elect only the Council member who resides in their borough and four at-large members (including the mayor), and (b) would equalize the population of the boroughs, which now range from Blackwater's 1,000 to Kempsville's 150,000.
An advisory referendum, it produced bad advice: 21,108 approved this modified ward plan; 18,922 disapproved.
What did that vote mean? Definitive approval, the plan's proponents say: The Beach demanded the modified ward system. Opponents say it was confusing: Too many people didn't realize they'd lose their vote on six Council seats. Many thought ``balanced/dis-trict'' or ``balanced-district'' or ``balanced district'' - as the reform's proponents variously and confusingly described their plan - meant only equalizing borough populations, not a ward plan.
The one sure thing the May vote meant: City Council would have to give or deny the Assembly the final say. By 6-5, Council's 11 members handed on this hot potato in some hope that the eight cooler heads in the Beach delegation would arrange its demise.
Cool hardly describes this Assembly so far. But a proposal to ratify the ward system, which requires a two-thirds Assembly vote, should and probably will be iced. Support for the modified ward system among May's relatively few voters and Council's members was too mushy for the Assembly to ratify.
The half-loaf proposal - to keep electing all Council members at-large but to equalize the borough's populations - requires only a majority Assembly vote. But its passage without first consulting Beach voters would be a presumptuous exercise of the state's awesome power over local governance and a maybe mistaken reading of local minds. Why guess that equalizing the boroughs is if not the people's panacea, at least the popular middle ground?
Yes, it has vocal support around the city. It also has some thoughtful but so-far silent opponents. A debate, then a referendum on that single, understandable issue would give voters a chance to hear both sides. And, an enduring lesson of last May's referendum, both sides should have the sense to seize it. by CNB