Supervisors shoot down voting change idea

For the fifth time in the last 10 years, Carson City supervisors shot down the idea of changing the way they are elected to office

The Charter Review Committee, which meets every two years, is responsible for examining the rules by which the city operates.

The committee took a different approach with this year's attempt to change the city's charter to allow supervisors to be elected in a manner other than primary and general city-wide elections. The group asked the supervisors to give themselves the latitude to change election procedures by ordinance.

"There's something assuring about this kind of consistency," committee chairwoman Shelley Aldean joked of the return of the voting issue. "We're persistent if nothing else."

Aldean pointed out some people are concerned Census 2000 figures may show minority-populated pockets of the city aren't being represented in city government. Rather than recommend a new voting system, the committee recommended leaving the responsibility with supervisors.

"We don't bring this recommendation lightly," Aldean said. "It's a time- saving device. We have faith in our city leaders, and frankly, it will get it off our agenda."

While Mayor Ray Masayko supported the idea, he abstained from the vote. Supervisors Jon Plank, Kay Bennett and Pete Livermore disagreed with the proposal. Supervisor Robin Williamson was absent.

"Carson City has a unique situation in the state," Bennett said. "Because the city is geographically contained, we tend to be involved in the issues not only in our wards, but across the city as a whole.

"I disagree with you that minorities could be disenfranchised. There's no exclusion. The minority members of the community are well-educated. I'm a minority. The process is as available to them as it was for me. Once a person has been elected the responsibility is to the community.

"We're doing just fine, thank you. I haven't supported it in the past, I don't intend to support it now."

Plank said ward boundaries are as representative of different economic and racial groups as they could be. He also said leaving the decision to supervisors would be too easy to manipulate in an emotional situation.

Aldean said she was surprised by the supervisors' no-vote to the proposal.

"I thought we had a fair compromise," she said. "This issue has been here year after year after year. I suspect we'll be considering the same issue again in two years."

Supervisors approved three other proposals brought by the committee:

- Elected officials' service on city boards and commissions should end with their terms.

- Only Carson City residents should be allowed to serve on city advisory boards. Plank asked that before the recommendation heads to the state Legislature for approval, a requirement be added that all serving must be registered voters of Carson City.

- The purchasing and contract director position should be discretionary.