THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 8, 1995 TAG: 9503080538
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
The City Council heard from 26 residents Tuesday but made no decision about whether to ask the governor to sign or veto a measure that would change the way council members are elected.
Almost all of the speakers urged the council to ask the governor to sign the General Assembly bill, which would create equal-sized council districts and would require an advisory referendum next year about the creation of wards.
Those supporting it, most of whom have fought for the creation of wards, said the measure was a good first step. Several people who oppose wards also spoke in favor of the measure, saying equal districts would be a good compromise.
Only one speaker said the council should ask the governor to veto the measure.
The current 11-member council includes seven borough representatives who must live in districts that now range in population from nearly 1,000 to about 150,000. Those borough council members are still elected by voters from across the city; under a ward system, they would be elected only by members of their district.
The council called for the public hearing last week when it learned that the General Assembly had passed the unexpected compromise. A majority of the council now seems poised to support it.
A vote is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Several council members raised legal concerns about the bill, which would create the approximately 59,000-person districts by 1998. It is unclear, said some council members and city attorney Leslie L. Lilley, whether the bill also covers the School Board, which is structured similar to the council.
They discussed whether to ask the governor to add language to the bill that would require the redistricting for the School Board along with the council.
Council member Linwood O. Branch III also wondered aloud how the U.S. Justice Department would react to the Beach's redistricting and possible move toward wards.
Lilley said that Virginia Beach, with less than a 20 percent minority population, does not face the federal pressures for wards that some other area cities have. by CNB