HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-20-1996 - IX-A 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 20, 1996
SUBJECT: ELECTION OF ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN DISTRICT ELECTIONS
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DEPARTMENT County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING YES NO x
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BUDGET AMENDMENT: YES NO
ATTACHMENT (S) : NO INFORMATION CONTACT
Moses Carey
TE LE PHONE NUMBER
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Mebane 227-2031
Durham 688-7331
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PURPOSE : To consider the future election of Orange County Commissioners in
District Elections.
BACKGROUND: The members of the Orange County Board of Commissioners are
currently elected At-Large in partisan primary and general elections . Upon
election, they serve in staggered four year terms which require two or
three to run for re-election every two years . Two members are elected in
Presidential election years and three members are elected in Non-
Presidential years . Citizens in rural areas of the county have indicated a
desire to have commissioners- elected by district to insure that they will
have a voice in county policy making. While district elections of
commissioners will not in fact guarantee any particular group a voice in
policy making, this system of electing commissioners could provide for
geographical balance within Orange County among the elected county policy
makers . This geographical balance could positively impact the perception
of representativeness in policy making in Orange County. The proposal is
that the County Commissioners be elected in the future by Residential
District by countywide vote of the electorate. The current staggered terms
will continue to apply. The current partisan nature of the election will
continue to apply. The County will be subdivided into five Residential
Districts . Each Residential District will be represented by one seat on
the Board. All registered voters in the county will be eligible to vote on
all candidates from a Residential District in the years they represent
their party in the General election. Only voters in the particular party
may vote on the candidates in their party in Primary elections .
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners adopt the above
indicated Residential District Election Plan in principle and instruct the
County Attorney and County Manager to gather information and produce a report
which details a plan to implement this Residential District Election Plan as
soon as possible. The report should include, but not be limited to, the
legal authority of the county to take this action, any state or electorate
approval needed, costs associated with implementation, and a proposed process
for establishing district lines.