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20 <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> Tony Blake said Commissioner Dorosin was kind enough to respond to his email, and <br /> provided more current conversations that have taken place. He said he supports the <br /> discussion and thinks improvements could be made, but he has the following concerns <br /> about pushing this change through too quickly. He summarized his concerns: <br /> • As is stands right now, the "voting method" agenda item 6-b lacks <br /> definition and a suggested plan/model for discussion. <br /> • Discussion of changing the voting method is too important to be rushed. <br /> • Data is old and there is not enough time to collect/update the data, have <br /> the discussion and get feedback before the 2020, election. <br /> • A target of 2020 would put a lot of pressure on staff who are already <br /> dealing with emergency conditions and budget concerns. <br /> • Meeting "virtually" is still somewhat less effective than face to face. <br /> • Part of the BOCC is "lame duck", and it is important that the newly elected <br /> commissioners be a part of driving this conversation. <br /> • The 2020 census results may change things and require a new look within <br /> 2 years, resulting in wasted efforts. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin thanked Tony Blake for his comments, and others the <br /> BOCC received. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said he does not have concerns about the 2020 primary, <br /> but rather the primary illustrated some if the issues that have been discussed in Orange <br /> County for the past few years. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin summarized his comments, which are in the agenda. He <br /> said he has been talking about this since 2016, and this is an on-going issue with the <br /> Board but the Board has not made any decisions. He said November is the earliest <br /> possible time to make changes, and that may be too soon, but if the majority of the <br /> Board does not want to do anything, then it should vote as such, and move on. He said it <br /> is his preference that the County moves to 7 single-member districts. He said the <br /> primary highlighted that the district one presidential year race is the only seat on the <br /> county commission that is a multimember election, and all others are single member <br /> elections. He said the multimember seat is the only multimember seat on the ballot, <br /> which is confusing to the public. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said they need an electoral system where commissioners <br /> are all elected the same way, and that is by single member districts. He said another <br /> important issue is that the County will have to draw the districts once the census comes <br /> out, and it is important for the BOCC to make decisions now and do everything at one <br /> time. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said there have been concerns that going to single <br /> member districts will lead to dominance by the southern part of Orange County, i.e.: <br /> Chapel Hill and Carrboro. He said he feels these concerns are overblown, and in the last <br /> two at large elections residents have elected representatives that live in the Chapel Hill <br /> area. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said one of the challenges with multi-member districts, is <br /> that they encourage voters to do single shot voting. He said this is a legitimate strategy, <br /> but not necessarily a fair one. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos said this is a complicated issue. He said in 1992 there <br /> was a group who discussed this, and recommended cumulative voting. He said he <br /> disagrees that single district is the most democratic way to go, and proportional <br /> representation is used by a majority of countries around the world, and does not require <br /> districts. He agreed it is important to not rush this discussion, and to engage the public. <br />