Wayne Messina Favors 7-Member City Council with 2 At-Large

CENTRAL — Councilman Wayne Messina said Wednesday he likes the recommendations of the Mayor’s Committee on Reapportionment, which he chairs.  The report says the next City Council should have seven members with five elected from districts and two at-large.

“I didn’t vote on the report because I didn’t want to influence the decision of the committee.  But, after speaking with mayors and city council members from around the state, I agree with the committee that it is important to have some at-large members of the Council.”

Messina said that, even though his committee had several meetings, held public hearings, and discussed the issue fully, he intends to call three more public meetings to discuss it even more.  But he said he plans to introduce an ordinance on the subject by the end of September.

Since the results of the 2010 census, Central is the 12th largest municipality in Louisiana.

Among the 15 largest cities in the state — those with more than 20,000 population — only four have a five-member city council.   The others have seven or more.  Central is one of the cities with a five-member council.

Of the 15 largest cities, three are part of consolidated City-Parish governments — East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Terrebonne.  They all have nine to 12 single-member districts.  Of the 12 remaining cities, six have at-large members of the council.

Messina said there are several advantages of a seven-member city council with five from districts and two at large.

“I like a seven-member body, because you can have a functioning committee system.  That’s difficult with a five-member body.  In a five-member council, you could have committees composed of three members.  But the problem with that is, the state ethics law forbids a majority of a committee from meeting.  So if two members of the Council have a conversation, that’s a violation of state law!  That doesn’t make sense, but that’s the way state law works,” he said.

“On the other hand, if we have a seven-member council, committees can have four or five members, and two members having a conversation isn’t a problem,” he said.

“With seven members, we get more community involvement.  I’ve spoken to mayors and councilmen who say that often very talented people live in the same district.  Only one can serve.  At-large seats give them the opportunity to serve.  Too often the two most qualified people are in a race against one another, and the loser ends up dropping out of city affairs.”

“Electing at-large representatives also provides two members of the Council who have a citywide view of things and who are not just looking at their particular district.”

“For the individual citizen, it’s also better, because you have three councilmen to represent you — the one from your district and the two at-large,” he said.

After the Mayor’s Committee on Reapportionment met and made its recommendation, Mayor Mac Watts said he objected to having five members from districts and two at-large.

“As a courtesy to the mayor, we will have some more hearings,” Messina said, “We’ll hear public testimony, as we did before, and then make a decision.  However, if the recommendation remains the same, that’s what I’ll introduce.”

If Watts were to veto a reapportionment plan and the council did not override his action, the apportionment would remain as it is now — five at-large seats.

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News