Huntington Wards
Should Huntington town council members be elected by district, or at large? This is how the question will be put to Huntington voters:
"Shall a ward system be established for the election of councilmen/councilwomen in the Town of Huntington?" Voters will give their answer on Tuesday, Dec. 22, if they can break away from last minute holiday shopping to do so.
If they answer affirmatively in this oddly scheduled election, the town will draw lines for four council districts. The town supervisor would continue to be elected at large.
A group known as Concerned Citizens of Huntington successfully petitioned for the referendum. Opposing the change is a group of former elected officials, including two ex-supervisors. They argue that creation of districts will raise costs, and increase horse-trading.
Find links and more information below.
Despite the awkward timing, voters need to turn out to decide this important issue. Similar reforms in Hempstead, North Hempstead and Brookhaven demonstrate that the establishment of council districts brings representation closer to the people, and greater attention to their neighborhoods.
We hope Huntington voters will turn out to approve the use of council districts or wards, giving themselves a gift of better representation.
Concerned Citizens of Huntington
Keep Huntington Whole
Carl Todd
Glen Cove, NY
As long as you are not increasing the number of elected legislators, the argument that you are increasing the cost of government is a phony smoke-screen political sound bite. My politically active father always warned us, the further away the governor is from the governed, the less representation the governed have, plus a loss of local control for fair representation for their local needs.