Columbus City Council Mapping

Feedback on Columbus City Council Maps

This survey has been prepared so that Represent Columbus can gain feedback from persons interested in the next step toward a city council in Columbus that is represented by council members who are elected by district -- which is the norm in large cities across America.

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* 1. I have reviewed the draft maps prepared by Represent Columbus, at www.RepresentColumb.us

Yes

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* 2. The city of Columbus is now divided into 18 territories represented by Neighborhood Area Commissions. Please answer where you live as defined below:

Northeast

North Central

Near East

Milo Grogan

North Linden

South Linden

Clintonville

Fifth by Northwest

Far East

University

Hilltop

Franklinton

Far South

Great South East

South Side

South West

Livingston Avenue

Westland

I do not live in an area represented by a Neighborhood Area Commission

I do not know

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* 3. I am currently serving as a commissioner on my Neighborhood Area Commission

Yes

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* 4. In general, I believe that the choice marked below provides the best representation for my neighborhood:

7 member district

12 member district

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* 5. When I look at the 7 district format, I live in District:

I don't know

What I would change about my district:

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* 6. When I look at the 12 District format, I live in District:

I don't know

What would I change about my district:

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* 7. The Voting Rights Act requires consideration that "communities of interest" not be split, when drawing electoral districts. The VRA does not describe what a "community of interest" is, but leaves that to localities to define. How would you describe one or more different "communities of interest" that you believe should be kept intact in your district and in Columbus as a whole?

In Your District:

In Columbus:

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* 8. Do you believe including a map of council districts should be a part of a vote on whether to amend the charter to move toward council districts?

Yes

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* 9. What steps should Represent Columbus take to help build knowledge about, and voter support in favor of, city council districts in Columbus?

Highly Important:

Somewhat Important:

Of lower importance:

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* 10. How important of a consideration for you are the following arguments in favor of council districts:

	Not important	Somewhat important	Of Average Importance	Pretty Important	Highly Important	Not Applicable/I don't Care
Our At Large form of government may be unlawful and subject to an expensive and divisive lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act.	Our At Large form of government may be unlawful and subject to an expensive and divisive lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act. Not important	Our At Large form of government may be unlawful and subject to an expensive and divisive lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act. Somewhat important	Our At Large form of government may be unlawful and subject to an expensive and divisive lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act. Of Average Importance	Our At Large form of government may be unlawful and subject to an expensive and divisive lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act. Pretty Important	Our At Large form of government may be unlawful and subject to an expensive and divisive lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act. Highly Important	Our At Large form of government may be unlawful and subject to an expensive and divisive lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act. Not Applicable/I don't Care
We should change to promote equality, because our at large system is an outmoded and potentially discriminatory system: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice have successfully sued hundreds of cities to change, because at large forms of government have an unlawful voter dilution effect on minority populations who may not be able to elect candidates of their choice because their votes are subsumed by majority votes.	We should change to promote equality, because our at large system is an outmoded and potentially discriminatory system: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice have successfully sued hundreds of cities to change, because at large forms of government have an unlawful voter dilution effect on minority populations who may not be able to elect candidates of their choice because their votes are subsumed by majority votes. Not important	We should change to promote equality, because our at large system is an outmoded and potentially discriminatory system: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice have successfully sued hundreds of cities to change, because at large forms of government have an unlawful voter dilution effect on minority populations who may not be able to elect candidates of their choice because their votes are subsumed by majority votes. Somewhat important	We should change to promote equality, because our at large system is an outmoded and potentially discriminatory system: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice have successfully sued hundreds of cities to change, because at large forms of government have an unlawful voter dilution effect on minority populations who may not be able to elect candidates of their choice because their votes are subsumed by majority votes. Of Average Importance	We should change to promote equality, because our at large system is an outmoded and potentially discriminatory system: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice have successfully sued hundreds of cities to change, because at large forms of government have an unlawful voter dilution effect on minority populations who may not be able to elect candidates of their choice because their votes are subsumed by majority votes. Pretty Important	We should change to promote equality, because our at large system is an outmoded and potentially discriminatory system: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice have successfully sued hundreds of cities to change, because at large forms of government have an unlawful voter dilution effect on minority populations who may not be able to elect candidates of their choice because their votes are subsumed by majority votes. Highly Important	We should change to promote equality, because our at large system is an outmoded and potentially discriminatory system: The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice have successfully sued hundreds of cities to change, because at large forms of government have an unlawful voter dilution effect on minority populations who may not be able to elect candidates of their choice because their votes are subsumed by majority votes. Not Applicable/I don't Care
Having council members elected by district makes them more accountable to local citizens.	Having council members elected by district makes them more accountable to local citizens. Not important	Having council members elected by district makes them more accountable to local citizens. Somewhat important	Having council members elected by district makes them more accountable to local citizens. Of Average Importance	Having council members elected by district makes them more accountable to local citizens. Pretty Important	Having council members elected by district makes them more accountable to local citizens. Highly Important	Having council members elected by district makes them more accountable to local citizens. Not Applicable/I don't Care
My neighborhood would have a council member who knows us and our issues and can represent us.	My neighborhood would have a council member who knows us and our issues and can represent us. Not important	My neighborhood would have a council member who knows us and our issues and can represent us. Somewhat important	My neighborhood would have a council member who knows us and our issues and can represent us. Of Average Importance	My neighborhood would have a council member who knows us and our issues and can represent us. Pretty Important	My neighborhood would have a council member who knows us and our issues and can represent us. Highly Important	My neighborhood would have a council member who knows us and our issues and can represent us. Not Applicable/I don't Care
Having council members elected by district helps them know how to improve our neighborhood.	Having council members elected by district helps them know how to improve our neighborhood. Not important	Having council members elected by district helps them know how to improve our neighborhood. Somewhat important	Having council members elected by district helps them know how to improve our neighborhood. Of Average Importance	Having council members elected by district helps them know how to improve our neighborhood. Pretty Important	Having council members elected by district helps them know how to improve our neighborhood. Highly Important	Having council members elected by district helps them know how to improve our neighborhood. Not Applicable/I don't Care
Having council members elected by district will help me to have a relationship with my council member.	Having council members elected by district will help me to have a relationship with my council member. Not important	Having council members elected by district will help me to have a relationship with my council member. Somewhat important	Having council members elected by district will help me to have a relationship with my council member. Of Average Importance	Having council members elected by district will help me to have a relationship with my council member. Pretty Important	Having council members elected by district will help me to have a relationship with my council member. Highly Important	Having council members elected by district will help me to have a relationship with my council member. Not Applicable/I don't Care
Having council members elected by district reduces the cost of running for election and allows more people to run and compete for the position.	Having council members elected by district reduces the cost of running for election and allows more people to run and compete for the position. Not important	Having council members elected by district reduces the cost of running for election and allows more people to run and compete for the position. Somewhat important	Having council members elected by district reduces the cost of running for election and allows more people to run and compete for the position. Of Average Importance	Having council members elected by district reduces the cost of running for election and allows more people to run and compete for the position. Pretty Important	Having council members elected by district reduces the cost of running for election and allows more people to run and compete for the position. Highly Important	Having council members elected by district reduces the cost of running for election and allows more people to run and compete for the position. Not Applicable/I don't Care

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* 11. Columbus has 7 council members. Which of the following are the current 7 members of Columbus City Council?

Andrew Ginther

Paula Brooks

Kevin Boyce

Jaiza Page

Priscilla Tyson

Elizabeth Lessner

Dimetrious Stanley

Rick Pfeiffer

Michael Stinziano

Elizabeth Brown

Mitch Brown

John Brown

Lester Holt

Katie Courac

Zach Klein

Zach Scott

Michael Coleman

Cindy Lazarus

Les Wright

Matt Ferris

Whitney Smith

Cameron Mitchell

John Rosenberg

Shannon Hardin

Urban Myer

J.T. Barrett

Michael Wiley

Charleta Tavares

Tracy Heard

Shawna Gibbs

Hugh Dorrian

Angie Blevins

Other (please specify)

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* 12. The City Council currently has a budget of $3.8 million for 40 people/7 council members (an average of roughly $94,000 per employee, all costs included). The average city council in America in a top 50 city has 13 members. To what extent would the costs associated with enlarging council matter to you?

	No problem	Acceptable	Borderline acceptable	Problemmatic
Current 7 members ($0 additional dollars)	Current 7 members ($0 additional dollars) No problem	Current 7 members ($0 additional dollars) Acceptable	Current 7 members ($0 additional dollars) Borderline acceptable	Current 7 members ($0 additional dollars) Problemmatic
11 member council ( 4 new members = $376,100 additional - a 10% increase in council's budget)	11 member council ( 4 new members = $376,100 additional - a 10% increase in council's budget) No problem	11 member council ( 4 new members = $376,100 additional - a 10% increase in council's budget) Acceptable	11 member council ( 4 new members = $376,100 additional - a 10% increase in council's budget) Borderline acceptable	11 member council ( 4 new members = $376,100 additional - a 10% increase in council's budget) Problemmatic
13 member council (6 new members = $564,150 additional - 15% increase in council's budget)	13 member council (6 new members = $564,150 additional - 15% increase in council's budget) No problem	13 member council (6 new members = $564,150 additional - 15% increase in council's budget) Acceptable	13 member council (6 new members = $564,150 additional - 15% increase in council's budget) Borderline acceptable	13 member council (6 new members = $564,150 additional - 15% increase in council's budget) Problemmatic
15 member council (8 new members = $752,200 additional - 20% increase in council's budget)	15 member council (8 new members = $752,200 additional - 20% increase in council's budget) No problem	15 member council (8 new members = $752,200 additional - 20% increase in council's budget) Acceptable	15 member council (8 new members = $752,200 additional - 20% increase in council's budget) Borderline acceptable	15 member council (8 new members = $752,200 additional - 20% increase in council's budget) Problemmatic
17 member council (10 new members = $940,250 - a 25% increase in council's budget)	17 member council (10 new members = $940,250 - a 25% increase in council's budget) No problem	17 member council (10 new members = $940,250 - a 25% increase in council's budget) Acceptable	17 member council (10 new members = $940,250 - a 25% increase in council's budget) Borderline acceptable	17 member council (10 new members = $940,250 - a 25% increase in council's budget) Problemmatic

Comments, if desired:

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* 13. I am active in a civic or business association in the city of Columbus

Yes

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* 14. I would be interested in helping Represent Columbus move council district initiative forward

Yes

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* 15. I am interested, and here is my contact information:

Name

Address

Phone