The Vancouver City Council has made a wise decision to continue considering by-district election of council members. The idea warrants further discussion but also should be approached with caution.
The city’s 15-member Charter Review Committee, which every five years examines the local form of government and makes recommendations, has suggested that council seats be divided into three districts. Primary elections would include candidates who live in a particular district, with each district being represented by two council members. General elections for each position would be citywide.
There are reasonable arguments on both sides of the issue. Proponents say that such a system would improve the geographic diversity of the council — and perhaps its economic and racial diversity. For example, in the past 20 years, no councilor has been elected from north central Vancouver, and of the six current councilors, only one resides east of Interstate 205.
Of course, under the current system in which all positions are elected at-large, people from east Vancouver are free to run for the council. The reason few have been elected is the result of numerous factors, not simply the lack of voting by district. “This is a solution looking for a problem,” council member Bill Turlay said Monday at a meeting. “I don’t see a problem, to be honest. I like things the way they are. I don’t see the need to change it.”
Turlay, who is not seeking re-election this year, is the only council member who lives on the east side, and his argument has merit. The goal should be to attract candidates who have a robust vision for the city — a trait that transcends geographic boundaries.
With that in mind, one of the selling points for the proposal is that candidates would represent specific districts but still be chosen citywide in the general election. In 2009, a proposal would have divided the city into six districts, with councilors elected only by voters in their district. In opposing the idea, The Columbian wrote editorially: “One of the many negative consequences of this change would be the creation of six fiefdoms. City representatives — wise ones, at least — would naturally protect their own re-electability.” That problem would be mitigated under the current proposal.
There is no single formula for electing an effective city council for the state’s fourth-largest city. Tacoma, the third-largest city, has a mayor and eight other council members, with five of them elected by district and three chosen at-large. Bellevue, the fifth-largest city, has seven council members, all elected at-large.
But expanding the geographic diversity of the council is worth pursuing. In particular, we consider east Vancouver, where residents long have complained about a lack of representation on the council and a lack of attention to their concerns since the area was annexed by the city in 1997. Having a council member who lives in the same part of town can give residents a heightened sense that their concerns about a lack of sidewalks or a cavernous pothole will be taken seriously. It also can enhance engagement between residents and their government.
With valid arguments available on both sides of the issue, it will be essential — and interesting — to learn what voters think. It appears likely that the question about voting by districts will appear on the ballot in November 2020.
Councilor Erik Paulsen said, “My fellow council members said we’re solving a problem that doesn’t exist; I think if we went out to talk to our constituents, they wouldn’t agree.” Let’s find out.
