By Ed Granfield
Commission Chairman
The great 20th century scientist Albert Einstein said it best: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result!”
Einstein must have been a student of West Haven politics.
In May our CRC intern completed a small research project. Starting in 1999, he compiled a list of campaign promises made by West Haven mayoral candidates from all parties. They were in order, economic development, public education improvements, safer, cleaner streets, efficient city government, etc., all candidates, both parties, same messaging! There are currently five candidates considering a mayoral run. Have any of them said something you haven’t already heard before?
As previously stated by the CRC, the problem isn’t necessarily the people, it lies within the system in which we govern. The CRC researched this topic in depth and found that of the 59 Connecticut cities not operating under a Town Meeting or Town Selectman format, no two local governments were the same. Given our small geographical footprint of approximately 11 square miles, our ten micro-district system is unique, yet clearly ineffective.
If you take a look at our current city voting district map, they zig zag all over the place, and vary in population from a low of 4435 (tenth) to a high of 6827 (fourth) not exactly a balanced format.
And let’s be real, one member of a micro-district is easily ignored in the grand scheme of city politics. Now factor in the Board of Education, a body elected city wide, at-large, no districts. How many years have neighborhood schools located throughout the city lacked real representation from cycle to cycle? The answer is almost every single year.
The CRC believes it is time for West Haven to restructure our political process. This is a complex problem that requires a simple solution. Our proposal is not modeled after any particular community, although there are similarities to some, and it fully complies with Connecticut State guidelines and statutes for fair and equal representation. Here are some of the key highlights:
1. 3 voting districts – City Council & Board of Education; 2. 4-year terms – Mayor, City Council, Board of Education; 3. City Council – 4 members per district; 4. Board of Education – 3 members per district.
Under the CRC proposal, the mayor would be the only legislator elected city-wide, and each of the three districts would now have a significant voice in our political process. An individual micro district member can be ignored, a chorus of four cannot, the Havens project, and the lone council person from that area comes to mind! As for the Board of Education each individual school would now be guaranteed three seats at the table. For our concerned citizens within any given neighborhood of the city, you now have a powerful legislative block to work with on issues of concern to you. Here are a couple of obvious questions and our reasoning supporting all of them.
- Why four years? Stabilize our political process, reduce election year costs (Last two local elections: 2015 -$96,000, 2017 – $124,000, average $110,000 per election) Focus on governing, not re-election efforts, increase ability to develop and implement long term vision and strategy for the city.
- Why 3 districts? Simplify the election process, reduce election day costs, improve representation by creating legislative blocks per district.
- Why change the Board of Education to a district system? No more staggered terms, become part of the mayoral election teams, simplify the process, insure complete electoral coverage for all city schools by members who reside within a school’s neighborhood/district.
- How would it work? For the City Council, each party would nominate three candidates for the 4 district seats, a guarantee of 1 minority party seat per district (as required by State Statute) resulting in a 9-3 minimum split with the Mayor becoming voting member 13 of the Council. The Board of Ed would remain the same 6-3 minimum split, but also be nominated within the district system. Each party would nominate 2 candidates for the 3 district seats, no more staggered terms. This process is not uncommon or unusual, we already do it in West Haven along with many other communities in Connecticut. Hopefully a before and after map will simplify this explanation. (see maps)
The CRC believes this system of governing is best suited to support professional city management and improve our legislative decision making process. Without continuity, stability, and accountability built into West Haven’s political process, a professional city manager would have a difficult time bringing about real change.
These highly educated and trained individuals are not going to accept a position here under our current political climate. They need to see as plain as day there is a stable working legislative body and political process in place that they can work with before considering a position in West Haven.