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CONSIDERATIONS PRO AND CON <br />IN RE-ELECTION BY "WARD" VS. "AT LARGE" <br />AND <br />"PRIMARY" VS. "NO PRIMARY" <br /> By: Bernard E. Steffen, Charter Chairperson <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />Arguments in favor of "WARD" system: <br /> <br />· Candidates are more likely to get to know more limited number of constituents. <br /> <br />CASE # <br /> <br />Constituents are more likely to get to know and to identify with a single, more local, <br />council representative. <br /> <br />Less costly election process for the candidates. <br /> <br />· More assurance of "geographic" representation and distribution. <br /> <br />· More'likely to reflect specific "needs" of the limited geographic area. <br /> <br />· Eliminates potential for one populated area to "pack" the council by running and <br /> electing a slate of candidates from that area. <br /> <br />Arguments in favor of "AT LARGE" system: <br /> <br />· Less likelihood of parochial, geographic, voting on <br /> concern. All council members represent all citizens. <br /> <br />matters requiring city-wide <br /> <br />· Broad geographic area requires candidates to "get to know" the whole city and the <br /> whole city's problems. <br /> <br />· No need for the City to create and regularly update ward lines that are consistent with <br /> voting preCinct and larger government district lines. <br /> <br />· Less election expense for the City; simpler ballots; fewer different ballots needed than <br /> with wards. <br /> <br />Arguments in favor of "primary" election: <br /> <br />· Likelihood for more representative results because the smaller, Canal field will result in a <br /> plurality fOr the final winners. <br /> <br /> <br />