Alex Cantatore
When looking at the current makeup of the Turlock City Council, one question immediately comes to mind. Why do we as Turlockers endorse a council composed entirely of members that live on the north and east sides of town?
We may have elected these representatives, but do they truly represent the increasingly diverse City of Turlock?
On the national stage, even the smallest of states has a voice in the federal government. And, certainly, Rhode Island is at least as important to the United States of America as the Westside is to Turlock.
Because of voting districts, a Michigander has no say over the fate of Dianne Feinstein and a Pennsylvanian can’t give Barbara Boxer the boot, just as we as Californians are disallowed from determining whether Arizona Senator John McCain should retain his seat. And, while I may not agree with the decisions other states make, I respect their right to make those decisions and pick their own representatives.
Sure, as a Californian, it certainly seems like it might be nice if we elected America’s Senators on a nationwide basis. As the nation’s most populous state by a long run, we’d probably control a solid 12 percent - at the minimum - of a nationally elected Senate.
But imagine if you lived in Alaska, a state vitally important to our nation in terms of natural resources despite its lack of population. The only representative you’d have in Washington would be the polar bear in the National Zoo, and I doubt anyone would listen to his objections to drilling in ANWAR.
For Turlockers who find it hard to picture life in chilly Alaska, imagine life in a California that made the decision to elect its Congressmen on a statewide basis, rather than through small voting districts.
The majority Angelinos and San Franciscans would elect their own to office. The interests of the Valley would simply never be heard in Washington and, rather unfortunately, our own Congressman George Radanovich would likely find himself out of a job.
Turlock can’t pick who Sacramento sends to Washington under the current system, but at least Sacramento can’t decide who we elect to represent our interests - unless you count their attempts at gerrymandering Turlock and Stockton into the same district.
There’s good evidence that voting districts work to ensure fair representation, even at the local level. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors employs districts in a welcome process that keeps the County from being run by five Modestoans, and the Turlock Irrigation District picks its five Directors from the varying regions affected by its water and power, not just Turlock proper.
And that brings us back to the question: Why do we as Turlockers not seem to care about fair representation for all of our citizens? What about the segments of our local population that are left without a voice?
It’s not that our sitting councilmembers fail to offer unique viewpoints. Each one has his or her own personality, interests, and pet projects, but my question is, quite simply, whether these diverse perspectives are really diverse enough.
Police Chief Gary Hampton readily admits the gang and drug saturated Westside takes up the majority of police services. Yet, the council doesn’t have a single member who lives west of Geer Road or south of Canal Drive and would be likely to understand the challenges of that region.
The City of Modesto has seen the value of direct representation in recent months, adopting an electoral system with six council districts and an at-large mayoral seat. Modesto will elect its first councilmembers from this new district system in November, and I, for one, will be watching that race with serious interest to see if Modesto’s troubled Airport District finally sees some relief come about with representation.
By dividing the City of Turlock into four equal Council districts, with an at-large mayor elected from the whole of Turlock, it seems to be a given that Turlock’s City Council would better reflect our community and be better prepared to handle whatever challenges should arise.
While I may prefer to have three people from my neighborhood in office, I can see that Turlock would be better served by a regionally diverse group of leaders, just as California is better served in the House with representatives from the whole of the state and the nation is better served by Senators from Hawaii and New Hampshire in addition to those from New York and Florida.
Even if a Westside candidate might not support my neighborhood, I would certainly support the Westside’s right to representation.
To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.
Originally published in the Turlock Journal 4/17/2009.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.