[Mpls] 2 schools corrections

[Andy Driscoll]

I strongly support a mix of district and at-large seats, the at-large seats
(one to three less in number than the districts) to be numbered or labeled
so their incumbent occupants can be targeted for challenges to their
re-election without running against the entire pack of incumbents all at
once - a distinct disadvantage for anyone attempting to replace an
incompetent or undesirable. The at-large system of designated seats is
colloquially called the "alley" system of at-large voting - a sort of middle
ground between districts only and at-large only.

This should be true for all local elected bodies.

Andy Driscoll
Saint Paul
Former St. Paul Charter Commissioner.
--
The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men: Plato



> From: Dennis Schapiro <schapiro at jolapub.com>
> Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 14:23:17 -0500
> To: mpls at mnforum.org
> Subject: [Mpls] 2 schools corrections
> 
> Before things get  too heated, corrections, on two fronts:
> 
> A.
> The Peebles  story in City Pages includes without correction a  couple
> of rumors that are going around like crazy. To correct:
> 
> 1. The windows were frosted BEFORE  Supt. Peebles was hired.
> 2. There is no 90-day probationary period in law nor in her contract.
> 
> B.
> Doug Mann misstates  my school reorganization proposal...which I do not
> expect he would like if he had it correct.
> 
> He says that I support having the mayor appoint three school board
> members (true) and have the other four be  elected by geographic
> district (not true, although, in Mr. Mann's  defense,  it was,
> unfortunately,  so reported in Southwest  Journal). My proposal is that
> four members be elected to NUMBERED SEATS, much like judges. That would
> allow, for instance,  someone especially outraged by my work to
> challenge me directly rather than just  seek to be in the top 3 or 4
> vote-getters. Also the mayoral  appointees,  as I envisioned them,
> would not simply be CEO types, although the board would benefit from
> members with authentic experience in law, finance and organizational
> development. I was  looking for the mayor to address a lack of
> representation by race,  ethnicity, geography and, yes,  skill  set.
> 
> Rep Davnie has a proposal for geographic representation. Maybe there
> are other good ideas out there to. Bring them to Longfellow Center on
> Oct. 28.
> 
> Dennis Schapiro
> Linden Hills
> Minneapolis Board of Education
> 
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