By Brian A. Gray, Sr. Santa Monica
If there was ever a time for election reform, it is now. When we can have coun-cilmembers elected with only 16 percent of the vote all the way down to 9.56 percent of the vote winning a seat for a councilmember, it is time for change. How to do it? Easy. Have a primary vote so you have only twice the number of candidates as you do seats. Also, let’s draw some simple districts so all parts of Santa Monica can be represented in the City Council. I don’t see a single person from the Pico neighborhood on the City Council and never will with the current system. Most of all, to the winning candidates, don’t get too big of a head as though this vote gives you some sort of mandate to continue doing what you have been doing. You were elected by only 48.29 percent of the votes cast. That means that 51.71 percent of us don’t like you and would like nothing better than to get rid of you next time. See you in 2006. Or 2008.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 5, 2004. Read the original PDF.