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During the first few years, when Eagle Mountain was young, the topic of districting came up several times during City Council meetings. The idea was that the city should be broken up into districts, and each district would have a City Council member elected from residents in that district. Eagle Mountain is growing, and the idea may come back in the next little while. So I asked the candidates what they thought about the idea. Here are their responses. It should be noted these are not the current voting districts we are talking about, but districts that change the way the City Council is created.
Question: Currently, the City Council Members are elected by a city-wide vote, what are your thoughts on breakingthe city up into districts and having each district vote for one of the City Council members?
Mayor Candidates
Melissa Clark
This is something that is often done by larger cities. The sentiment behind districting is valid as Thomas Jefferson said “the government closest to the people serves the people best”. The question our city
needs to ask every two years is “as representatives of the people, can we still serve the people without living in the same neighborhood?”. I believe right now, we can and have. As a council member, I care about and represent the people of White Hills, Lone Tree, Meadow Ranch, and Pioneer Addition equally. While districting may create a sense of being more connected to one’s districted council member, there are also pitfalls. As we can see in the state and federal governments, there are alliances and other shortfalls that take place. As we grow and mature as a city, we should revisit the idea of districting
regularly.
Tom Westmoreland
This candidate after several email attempts did not participate in this questionnaire.
City Council Candidates
Brett Wright
I’m in favor of the creation of districts. I think we are a large enough population for districts to be more effective than a city wide vote. I think it would better ensure that we get a broad range of perspectives and make it easier for each district to chose a candidate that can advocate for their individual concerns and interests.
Donna Burnham
I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about districts. I live in what’s commonly known as the city center. Currently, I am the only council member or candidate from this area. Yet, city center is at least 30%of the population and it’s growing like wildfire. So I worry about representation for our area. Having said that, my past experience with council has been very positive. My fellow council members look out for all the city, not just their neighborhoods. In other words, thus far it hasn’t been a problem. One problem that can happen with districts, is infighting amongst council members to get the best things for their area, because that is how they get elected. I really don’t want to see this happen. So for now, I am a no on districts.
Tyler Shimakonis
I like having the elections city wide because it allows all possible council members to reach out to the whole city. If I live in City Center, I should know the micro issues that are going on in North Ranch or Silverlake. I would not be a proponent of districting our city for city council.
Jason Allen
I do not believe the city should be broken up into districts yet. The current structure requires candidates to visit and listen to all areas of the city. Over time, as populations across the city even out, I think this would be a good idea.
Rich Wood
There may be an argument for districting in the future. However, it is an open filing from anywhere in the city and there are not candidates that have filed from each part of the city. I am not against it honestly, but would probably favor 3 districts and 2 at large
Maria Hopkin
I can see pros and cons in each form of governance, both the current city-wide vote and a district division. While I love seeing the divide lessen between The Ranches and City Center, it uld be a shame for every elected official to live in one concentrated part of the city, and maybe not fully represent the people, or understand the unique issues, that are in other areas of the city. On the other hand, I think having a city-wide vote makes every candidate more willing to look at the ‘big picture’ of what is going on in the city, rather than hyperfocus on their ‘home’ district. I would need to do more research on this particular proposal before deciding if it was right for our city’s dynamic
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.