Letter: Create at-large Metro Council seats
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There is only one measure that will ensure that strong and effective leadership emerges from the ranks of the Metro Council: at-large council seats.
On two occasions over the past few years, I have sponsored a proposal that would (1) call for the election of at least two council members on an at-large, parishwide basis; (2) mandate that the at-large member getting the most votes would be elected as the president of the Metro Council (the “pro-tem”); and (3) reduce the number of single-member council districts to 10.
These measures require amending the Plan of Government, which can be done only by a vote of the people. Sadly, I have never received the seven votes required to send this plan to people of this parish for that vote.
Under our present Plan of Government, “leadership” on the Metro Council must originate across the hall from office of the mayor-president.
Mary Frey Eaton was indeed a wise and wonderful pro-tem, and I encouraged and pushed for her election as such. But do not forget that we all had the advantage then (1996-2000) of a very wise and experienced mayor-president, Tom Ed McHugh, whose door was never locked and always open to council members every day, and most especially on Wednesdays.
I regret that The Advocate has never strongly endorsed any plan for at-large seats. I regret that the Baton Rouge Area Chamber actually opposed my initial effort and “sat on the sideline” for the second. Your voices in support of this change are much needed.
The 2010 Census will afford the perfect opportunity to bring about this needed change in our local representative government.
Like your editorialist, I also hope that the newly elected council will function more like a team. I also hope that the newly elected council members will find some wisdom in a proposal for at-large seats and will send that to the people for a vote.
Please do not let this opportunity pass us by again.
Pat Culbertson
Metro Council District 3
Baton Rouge
On two occasions over the past few years, I have sponsored a proposal that would (1) call for the election of at least two council members on an at-large, parishwide basis; (2) mandate that the at-large member getting the most votes would be elected as the president of the Metro Council (the “pro-tem”); and (3) reduce the number of single-member council districts to 10.
These measures require amending the Plan of Government, which can be done only by a vote of the people. Sadly, I have never received the seven votes required to send this plan to people of this parish for that vote.
Under our present Plan of Government, “leadership” on the Metro Council must originate across the hall from office of the mayor-president.
Mary Frey Eaton was indeed a wise and wonderful pro-tem, and I encouraged and pushed for her election as such. But do not forget that we all had the advantage then (1996-2000) of a very wise and experienced mayor-president, Tom Ed McHugh, whose door was never locked and always open to council members every day, and most especially on Wednesdays.
I regret that The Advocate has never strongly endorsed any plan for at-large seats. I regret that the Baton Rouge Area Chamber actually opposed my initial effort and “sat on the sideline” for the second. Your voices in support of this change are much needed.
The 2010 Census will afford the perfect opportunity to bring about this needed change in our local representative government.
Like your editorialist, I also hope that the newly elected council will function more like a team. I also hope that the newly elected council members will find some wisdom in a proposal for at-large seats and will send that to the people for a vote.
Please do not let this opportunity pass us by again.
Pat Culbertson
Metro Council District 3
Baton Rouge
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