Wednesday Presentation to Rockwood

1. Gresham 2010 Census & Geographic
Representation by Councilor
Residence • Rockwood – 15914
• North Central – 11452
• Kelly Creek – 9243
• Centennial – 8905
• Southwest – 7774
• Northwest – 7278 VI - 14.3%
• Powell Valley – 6304 VI - 14.3%
• Northeast – 6179
• North Gresham – 5730
• Wilkes East – 5570
• Gresham Butte – 5398 VI - 57.1%
• Mt. Hood – 4850
• Central City – 3433
• Hollybrook -3354 VI - 14.3%
• Asert – 3250
• Gresham Pleasant Valley – 177
• (VI =Voting Impact on City Council)
Restoring voting districts - Dick
05/26/12 1
Strathern at strathe38@aol.com

2. Restoring Districts by Charter
Amendment
• Proposed Amendment
– If amended, Section 7 of the Gresham Charter would read:
• “The council shall consist of a mayor elected at large and one councilor
elected and residing in each of six districts.”
• Recruiting Diverse Petition Signature Team
• Recommending Independent Redistricting Commission
• A Lit Fuse
– Current electoral system of non geographic representation promotes
a centralized elite having exclusive power
– Special interests interaction and influence usually unseen significantly
reduces citizen interaction and influence
– Raising citizen awareness of the need for true representation
– Ballot Box Revolt
– Promoting high voter turnout by direct engagement of citizens and making
elections meaningful at the local level
Restoring voting districts - Dick
05/26/12 2
Strathern at strathe38@aol.com

3. Local Government and the Courts
• Courts strongly recommend single member
districts to remedy Voter Rights Act Violations
• Gresham rejects all single member districts
through citizen initiative charter amendment by
208 votes “simple majority” in 1986 and installs
exclusive at-large voting system
• The Gresham Challenge
– Election System that meets changing demographics
– Open and Transparent government
Restoring voting districts - Dick
05/26/12 3
Strathern at strathe38@aol.com

4. Two Types of Single Member Districts
• Residency Districts and True Electoral Districts
• Benefits of True Electoral Districts
– Population size represented reduced to 18,000 from 107,000
making engagement and influence more likely
– Councilors and voters reside in same district
– Balanced and diverse representation
– Responsive and accountable to voter voice
– Reduces likelihood of running unopposed
– Eliminates a voting majority residing in a single neighborhood
– Greatly reduces cost of campaigning and special interest
influence
– Frees Mayor to lead city wide community
Restoring voting districts - Dick
05/26/12 4
Strathern at strathe38@aol.com

5. Rationale for Selecting Specific Ballot
Measure Plan
• Rational for Selecting the 6-1 Plan
• Utilize Fair Vote Criteria to reach decision for SMD
• Representativeness, constituents connection, voter turnout,
manageable campaign costs etc
• Rationale for NOT selecting the “Mixed Model”
Electoral System
– Seen as discriminatory and disenfranchising of voter
middle class majority and voting minorities
• Returning Control Back to Gresham Voters
• Critical Action Steps
• What you can do to help!
Restoring voting districts - Dick
05/26/12 5
Strathern at strathe38@aol.com

6. What Is Needed!
• Citizen involvement: Every signature and vote is
essential!
• See single member districts as fair representation of
Gresham’s growing and diverse population
• For this charter amendment to be added to the ballot we
need 1500+ valid signatures
• Once on the ballot we need 60% of the votes cast to vote
YES to the measure
• Citizens to step up and become candidates and others to
support them
• Recruit your civic or private organization or yourself to
join the Campaign Committee for Restoring District
Representation
Restoring voting districts - Dick
05/26/12 6
Strathern at strathe38@aol.com