Agenda - 10-16-2018 8-a - Minutes

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18 1 public hearings. She said a decision is not needed until late 2019, so there is plenty of time to 2 hear from the public. 3 Commissioner McKee said conversation would be good, but he is hell bent on his 4 proposed changes. He agreed that this would be merely symbolic, but Orange County spends 5 money on symbolic issues all the time. He said it will not change the power structure, but it is 6 impossible to have anyone other than a democrat win with the current process of elections. He 7 said district-nominate/district-elect could offer a good candidate, running a good campaign on 8 the issues, instead of ideas, the chance to win, which will level the playing field. 9 Commissioner Marcoplos said if the Board makes this change, he will make a good bet 10 with Commissioner McKee. 11 Chair Dorosin said a committee involving citizens is a good idea. 12 Chair Dorosin said any change the Board can make to make this more democratic is 13 good, and he suggested adding the cumulative voting issue to North Carolina Association of 14 County Commissioners (NCACC) legislative agenda. He said he would go further than what 15 Commissioner McKee proposed, and eliminate the at-large seats, which have traditionally been 16 used as tool for advancing majority voting interests against minority voting interests. 17 Chair Dorosin said having 4-3 is more democratic than having 3, 2 and 2. 18 Commissioner McKee said he is not opposed to that. 19 Chair Dorosin said the committee would need to have all the facts as to what requires 20 legislature action and what does not. He said this is not just symbolic as perception is reality, 21 and if people perceive they are not being represented, then that has value. 22 Chair Dorosin said there is huge amount of unaffiliated voters in each district, and they 23 need to be moving toward 7 districts. 24 Commissioner Jacobs said he hopes, as part of this committee, the idea of cumulative 25 voting will at least be introduced to the public. He said the at-large seats are the ones that 26 represent everyone. He said Orange County has tried to ethically represent everyone, whether 27 in their districts or not. He said the at-large seats provide a buffer between the political district 28 war between the people who live in different parts of the County. He said the people in the 29 middle represent everyone by their very nature. 30 Commissioner Price said it is important to hear from the community, and what she hears 31 is that the at-large positions are controlled by Chapel Hill, whether one lives in Chapel Hill or 32 not. 33 Commissioner Price said in other areas districts have actual blocks, and wonders what 34 this would look like here. 35 Commissioner Marcoplos said you have to have 5% margin of error, so you have to dip 36 down into the urban population density to make every district within 5% population of the other. 37 Commissioner Marcoplos said he agreed with Commissioner Jacobs about the at-large 38 positions. He said he has run in District 2 and at-large, and if one is campaigning for an at- 39 large seat, one will go all around the County. He said if there are districts, one will be inclined 40 to stay in one's own districted area. 41 Commissioner Marcoplos said this proposed change is based on ignorance, and will not 42 change anything. He suggested waiting to see what the legislature will do. He said this was a 43 big issue in 1993, after he ran in 1992, and many felt unrepresented. He said Moses Carey had 44 a citizens committee that came out with a report that recommended going to districts or 45 cumulative voting. He suggested getting that report. 46 Commissioner McKee said there is no way that Orange County can increase the animus 47 that the General Assembly has for Orange County. 48 Commissioner Price said under the current system, she was forced to campaign in 49 District 1, which was helpful because the issues that the Board deals with cross over district 50 lines.