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33 <br />minorities. The criteria for the Voting Rights Act is "can the <br />minorities elect the candidates they present without the majority <br />of the community continually overriding their votes ?" The citizens <br />of rural Orange County do not have the right to go to the Courts in <br />order to receive representation, however, the same issue of <br />fairness applies to them on a moral level. <br />Keith Cook commented that there is not a systematic effort to <br />disenfranchise anyone in this community. Rural candidates have <br />been elected. They have the opportunity to run a campaign, present <br />their views and become elected. <br />Linda Carver stated that 28% of Orange County residents live in <br />rural Orange County, and would take 34% of the vote to win when 3 <br />Commissioners are tip to reelection and 50% when only two are <br />running. <br />Keith Cook stated that he and many other Orange County citizens <br />vote for candidates who represent their views not their residency. <br />If there is a perception of unfairness, do you change the system, <br />or attempt to change the perception through education. <br />Patrick Mulkey indicated there is a way- to make the system more <br />fair. He hoped that we would look beyond the issues of color and <br />gender in defining the term minority. <br />Keith Cook indicated that the system is not unfair if everyone has <br />a chance to vote and to run for office. <br />A motion was made by Patrick Mulkey, seconded by Richard Hammer, to <br />declare the present system unfair and proceed to the nett. issue. <br />A friendly amendment was made to the motion as follows: A motion <br />was made to state that the present system of electing County <br />Commissioners is unfair and inequitable in representing the <br />citizens of Orange County. <br />Another amendment was made as follows: A motion was made that the <br />present process for electing County Commissioners provides legally <br />fair representation to the citizens of Orange County but needs to <br />be made more fair. <br />Patrick Mulkey withdrew his motion so that another motion could be <br />made. <br />A motion was made by Robert Ferguson, seconded by Patrick Mulkey, <br />that the present system does not provide for equitable <br />representation for all citizens in the county. <br />VOTE: YES - Hammer, Ferguson, Mulkey, Carver, Worthington <br />NO - Lynch -Gaya, Williams, Cook <br />It was decided that Mr. Ferrell will be invited to return and <br />address this group after a decision is reached regarding a proposal <br />for changing the present system of electing County Commissioners. <br />