1. The Geopolitics of 2012 Gresham
Oregon
Based on the Testimony Before Gresham City
Council
February 7, 2012

2. CITIZEN BALLOT INITIATIVE
 A newly formed coalition of citizens is pursuing a ballot
measure that would amend the City Charter to require the
majority of city council members to be elected from at least
six geographic districts
 This citizen initiative is seeking the support of a broad
coalition of community business and civic organizations and
look forward to Gresham City Council joining this effort
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3. ELECTION OF GRESHAM CITY
COUNCILORS – MAY 1986
 Question: Shall city councilors be elected from the city at
large instead of from six small council districts?
 This measure would amend the Gresham City Charter to
elect city councilors at large
 League Summary: Gresham city councilors are now elected
to two-year terms from six councilor districts, each district
having approximately 6,000 residents. Presently, only
registered voters in a district may vote for candidates
running in the district.
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4. SUPPORTERS ARGUMENTS FOR A
“YES” VOTE
 1. Since all six city councilors make decisions which affect all
Gresham citizens, voters should be allowed to vote for all six
positions, not just one
 2. Districting restricts choices available to voters. Several
qualified candidates may reside in the same zone, but only
one could be elected.
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5. OPPONENTS’ ARGUMENTS FOR A
“NO” VOTE
 1. Election by district not only creates a more diverse
council, but makes each councilor more responsive to
his/her given area.
 2. Districting reduces the cost of running for election and
also reduces the influence of special interests.
 Let’s fast forward to 2012 and see what the consequences are
of this vote!
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6. WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A
VOTING MAJORITY?
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7. WHAT DOES THIS MAP SHOW?
 Majority of council lives in one
neighborhood
 Large parts of Gresham are
 not represented
 grossly underrepresented
 negatively represented
 What is the trend?
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8. CHARTER PROMOTES CITIZEN
INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNANCE
 The mayor and city manager are mandated to
report annually to City Council progress on
citizen involvement (Measure No. 26-86; 1998)
 Would districts increase citizen involvement?
 Does at-large voting decrease involvement?
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9. IMPORTANT FACTS
 At-large system is new since 1988
 District size
 1987 – 6000 people
 2012- 105,000+ people
 SUPERMAJORITY now in control
 40% of Electorate can kill a Charter
Amendment
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10. CONSEQUENCES OF GRESHAM
VOTING SYSTEM
 High cost of running for public office
 Vast majority of citizens cannot find the resources to run a
successful campaign
 Advantages those with wealth
 Excessive influence of special interests
 Uncontested council and mayoral races
 Lack of representation
 Less responsive to citizens
 More responsive to special interests
 Dilutes neighborhood and minority vote and voice
 Low voter turnout
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11. IMPACT ON NEIGHBORHOODS
 80% of neighborhoods not geographically represented
 Gresham Butte Council Majority unfamiliar with many
neighborhood issues and concerns
 Rockwood residents were and are inadequately represented
on the Urban Renewal Citizen Advisory Committee
 Long history of City Council not engaging or being
influenced by neighborhoods
 Also, there are a significant number of neighborhood
associations that are inactive
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12. CITIZEN VOICE AND CITY
COUNCIL ACCOUNTABILITY
 At-large election system
 Means all 105,000+ of us are represented by every council
member
 Fails to make any one council member responsible and
accountable for our district concerns, or those of our neighbors
 No one council member is responsible or accountable to a
particular citizen
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13. SHOULD WE WAIT FOR VOTER
RIGHTS ACT LITIGATION?
 Discrimination today is more subtle than the visible methods
used in1965. However the effects and results of “exclusive”
at-large districts are the same
 Do we in Gresham prefer to eliminate “exclusive” at-large
voting districts and replace them with a “mixed form” of
election system?
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14. THE GEOPOLITICS OF POLITICAL
POWER
 Do citizens understand the potential discriminatory and negative
impact of a majority of City Council and the Mayor residing in a
concentrated area and single neighborhood and/or few
neighborhoods?
 How many citizens are aware that the city charter of 1978
election process had six districts and only the Mayor elected at-
large.
 Are we going to be a democracy in this city or are we going to be
a democracy in one neighborhood?
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15. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
 Recruit 3-5 friends and/or members of your neighborhood association
to join this ballot measure campaign
 Attend City Council meetings
 To show support for this citizen initiative
 Give individual (three minute) testimony in support of this charter
amendment
 Question council candidates about their position on this charter
amendment
 Contact:
 Go to Facebook: facebook.com/goodgresham
 Or use email: goodgresham@gmail.com
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