#civic process

[rebuiltzine]

Prince George’s County Residents Sue Council Over At-Large Appointment, Alleging Power Grab

By MDBayNews Staff A group of Prince George’s County residents has filed a lawsuit challenging the County Council’s decision to fill a vacant at-large seat by appointment rather than through a special election, escalating a growing debate over democratic accountability in one of Maryland’s largest jurisdictions. The lawsuit, reported by WTOP, argues that the Prince George’s County Council acted…

Prince George’s County Residents Sue Council Over At-Large Appointment, Alleging Power Grab

[aaronbowman]

The Civic Process

Today I am going to take a break from the usual blog content to encourage everyone who lives in the city of Charleston to get out an vote. Today we are electing the first new Mayor in 40 years. Joe Riley has been consistently recognized as a champion of the built environment and the value of good design. While many of us haven't agreed with all of his policies or decisions, we at least new that he cared about our community. 

A few of the current candidates live downtown, but many of them claim West Ashley as their home. Because of this, I think the next several years are going to see renewed focus on the entire city of Charleston, and not just the tourist areas downtown. As NIMBYism and antidevelopment sentiments continue to coalesce downtown, the surrounding suburban communities are starting to feel the effects and see more development. There is no BAR or Design review outside of the peninsula, so residents are at the mercy of the zoning code. I hope that the new Mayor will bring a broader, regional focus to our transportation and development issues and a renewed focus on quality of life for residents, and not just tourists. 

The position of the Mayor currently holds tremendous influence on the surrounding communities and other cities across the state. If you are a resident, I encourage to participate in choosing this leader. I live on James Island, which is primarily in the county, unless you're in the Town that maybe isn't actually legally a town. But previous owners of my house voluntarily annexed into the city. We are the only house on the street that is actually in the city, which makes trash collection and other services pretty annoying. But, this means we get to vote. And we get to vote for the City Council seat that represents us.  

I grew up in East Tennessee, but I have lived in South Carolina for the past 16 years. I have voted in every election that I was eligible for since I turned 18. At every voting location, without fail, I have encountered people who are not eligible to vote, not properly registered, or are in the wrong place. Voter ID laws, redistricting and many other policies create challenges to participation in the process. While many of these are well intentioned, they do not always lead to positive outcomes for all citizens. Unfortunately, it takes some effort to participate, but it is incredibly important to do the work. We will never have elected officials who truly represent our community if the community does not come out and vote. So, please: vote. 

Here are a few links to help you out:

SC Election Commission: sample ballot and voting location information

Charleston City Paper: Election Guide

Post & Courier: Election coverage

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aB