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No: Ward Politics Will Return

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By Jan Platt / Special To The Tribune

Published: January 27, 2008

The single-member district proposal which is being circulated would greatly diminish the power of every voter in our county. I urge all county residents to vigorously oppose the petition drive by not signing it and if it makes it to the ballot, vote "no"!

Under our current system of electing county commissioners, each voter has four votes. Four county commissioners are responsible to each voter - one single member commissioner and three at-large commissioners. The proposed change would take away three of each citizen's votes, providing one vote for one commissioner representing one-seventh of the county. Does that make sense? It does not!

Have you ever heard of the phrase "ward politics?" You will for sure if this proposal passes.

When our current charter was debated in the early 1980s, there were numerous district proposals considered. Along with our current four-three plan - four single member districts and three at-large - also debated was a plan like the one proposed creating seven single-member districts; a plan for five single-member districts with two at-large districts; and five single member districts with two at-large.

Each was vigorously debated with consideration given to the ramifications of decision-making in a richly diverse county spanning over 1,000 square miles and destined to become a major metropolitan community. Also paramount was assuring that neighborhoods, ethnic groups and smaller constituencies had a strong voice.

Also considered was the fact that in the state of Florida, county governments, unlike cities, are arms of the state and as such, a Florida county commission wields broad power over many aspects of state as well as local government. For instance, county commissioners perform such state functions as housing state courts, the state attorney, the public defender, the clerk of court, property appraiser, sheriff, tax collector and the supervisor of elections.

The commissioners fund the budgets of the constitutional officers, build jails, fund new voting machines, etc. Approximately one-third of the countywide millage levied by the commissioners funds the sheriff's operation. Only the county commission can levy local gas taxes. Commissioners have broad, far-reaching powers as an arm of the state while they also perform the standard local government functions such as zoning, providing fire protection and code enforcement, building roads, parks and such. Commissioners also administer federal social programs such as Head Start, aging services, etc.

Taking the broad powers of Florida county commissioners into consideration, as well as their impact on individuals and neighborhoods, the four-three plan seemed best suited for our county. It offers a major voice for individuals since a majority of the commission is responsible to each voter and it assures that the "broader view" is represented with the three at-large commissioners.

We in Hillsborough have a richly diverse citizenry and the current four-three system serves it well. In giving our charter clearance on Jan. 4, 1985, William Bradford Reynolds, assistant U.S. attorney general, Civil Rights Division, wrote, "we find the 4-3 method of election and the districting plan provided by the Charter are not retrogressive, and we have found insufficient evidence of a discriminatory purpose in drafting of the plan."

I was chair of the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners that drafted the current Charter which was approved on Sept. 20, 1983 - which has since been amended. I ask you to think twice before signing a petition of casting a ballot to replace your current four votes for commissioners with one. A commission of seven single-member districts will take away your vote and diminish your power.

Jan Platt is a former Hillsborough County commissioner.

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