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3a <br />cases, the increase was a result of current or impending Justice <br />Department review, in other cases it was not. <br />Keith Cook indicated that at every level of local County <br />government, on every elected Board, at least one African - American <br />is represented. <br />Patrick Mulkey stated that he believed the rural citizens are not <br />being fairly represented. The African - Americans are being <br />represented in elected office, however, there are other groups who <br />do not feel that they have the same opportunity to hold office. <br />Keith Cool: stated that, only within the last several years have all <br />of the Board of Commissioners resided in Chapel Hill Township. The <br />rural candidates have often held elected office in Orange County. <br />Presenting a qualified candidate who is well versed in all local <br />issues and citizens working together toward that candidates <br />election is the issue. He commented on how disheartening it has <br />been to try organizing Cedar Grove Township. Meetings are often <br />held and very few residents make the time to attend. Citizens need <br />to do their part in making the system work for them. <br />Patrick Mulkey indicated that he polled two former County <br />Commissioners both of whom indicate that they felt the current <br />system was unfair and recommended district representation. A <br />citizen commented to him that the current system discourages <br />candidates from entering the race. <br />Gloria Williams indicated that it is important to her that we know <br />what the citizens want. The 200 citizens who have been polled to <br />date need to be responded to, however, there are tens of thousands <br />of voters in Orange County who have not responded to this question. <br />Making changes in the system because of 200 citizens is <br />irresponsible. <br />In response to a question about fairness, Joe Ferrell commented <br />that the system is legal or it would not be in existence here. If <br />a new system is created, it will also need to follow the law and <br />the one - person, one -vote rule. He explained the term Home Rule. <br />This was enacted to provide county citizens with the ability to <br />change the form of local Government without going to the <br />Legislature in an attempt to return power to local government. Due <br />to the fact that County election are always partisan Home Rule must <br />be initiated by the Board of County Commissioners. This was <br />intended to keep voters from continually changing the structure of <br />local government.. <br />He indicated that the Legislature has become less willing to become <br />embroiled in controversial local issues. The Home Rule Act allows <br />communities involved in a controversy over the form of local <br />eovernment to deal with the issue without involvina the <br />Legislature. <br />Lee Mortimer, with the Center for Voting and Democracy, stated that <br />the Voting Rights Act was passed because the system was not fair to <br />