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News :: Civil & Human Rights : Elections & Legislation |
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GEO Joins NAACP, College Democrats, and Many Other Organizations that Endorse Voting "NO" on At-Large in Urbana |
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by Vote No At-Large
Email: noatlarge (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
29 Oct 2004
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The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) has become the latest in a long list of organizations that have publicly endorsed a "no" vote on the at-large ballot question in Urbana. |
(Urbana)// - The GEO is the latest organization to join the growing list of those who publicly endorse a “no” vote on the at-large referendum. The full list of organizations includes the NAACP, Champaign County Branch; the Democratic Party of Champaign County; UCAN (United Citizens and Neighbors), the King School and Crystal Lake Park neighborhood association; the University of Illinois College Democrats; the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO); the Prairie Green Party of East Central Illinois; and the Independent Voters of Illinois.
The NAACP’s unanimous resolution stated that “the addition of at-large seats to the Urbana City Council will dilute minority representation on that body.” Every other endorsement also addressed the fact that at-large elections are proven to dilute minority influence in local governments nationwide. The Democratic Party’s resolution noted that the Party believes at-large elections threaten to dilute the one-person, one-vote principle, and urged Democrats in Urbana to vote “no.” UCAN’s mailing to its members noted that the assertion that at-large dilutes minority influence “is documented fact evidenced by 35 years of scientific research.”
Statements by the College Democrats and the GEO both included discussion of student issues. The College Democrats stated that “the proposed addition of 2 [at-large] seats would weaken student influence on the city council as well as the influence of minorities in the community.” The GEO noted that the addition of at-large seats would make student interests a minority on the Council, and linked student-friendly policies like apartment recycling and the landlord-tenant ordinance to the fair representation students receive under the ward system in Urbana.
Nearly 30 current and former elected officials from the city of Urbana have endorsed a “no” vote on at-large. These officials include Alderman Jim Hayes (Ward 3), City Clerk Phyllis Clark, former Aldermen Michael Pollock and John Taylor, and former Mayor Hiram Paley.
Vote No At-Large is a grassroots organization that opposes the addition of at-large seats to the Urbana City Council. The last question on the ballot on Election Day will ask voters whether to add these seats. Vote No At-Large and their endorsing organizations and officials oppose at-large for Urbana because at-large is proven to dilute minority representation, and because it injects big money into local campaigns.
More information, including text of the endorsements and a list of all public officials supporting a no vote, is available from http://www.noatlarge.org.
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See also:
http://www.noatlarge.org
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This work is in the public domain |
