[Sosfbay-news] Proportional Representation and the Town Hall Meeting

[Fred Duperrault]

Jim,

If I were to be here in the state on that day, and if I were adequately 
articulate on the subject I would take the challenge. But I don't 
qualify either way.

Thanks for your persistence and skill in promoting Proportional 
Representation.

Fred D.

Jim Stauffer wrote:
> FYI for anyone who would like to go to the town hall meeting and put in 
> a word for proportional representation.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>
>                 CALIFORNIANS for ELECTORAL REFORM
>
>
> Dear CfER Members:
>
> You have likely heard talk in the news about a group promoting a
> Constitutional Convention for California to fix the panoply of
> institutional problems plaguing the state. And you may have heard that
> part of the process is to hold town hall meetings in various locations 
> to gather public comments.
>
> One such town hall meeting is being held in Sunnyvale on July 31.
>
> Whether or not you agree with a Constitutional Convention, or the
> organization behind it, this is an opportunity to make public comments
> promoting proportional representation. The more people hear about
> proportional representation, the concept becomes less foreign and more
> acceptable. Even though some form of proportional representation is used
> in most democracies around the world, it is still viewed as a foreign
> concept here in the U.S.
>
> The more people across the state bring up this issue at these meetings,
> the more likely the Convention folks will consider it worth examining.
>
> If you're interested in attending you are requested to RSVP and register
> at this web site:
>
>                http://www.repaircalifornia.org
>
> A description of the event follows. Below that are talking points you
> may use for commenting. Public comment time is usually held to a minute
> or two per person, so prepare to be concise.
>
>
> Jim Stauffer
> Chapter Coordinator, Santa Clara County
> 408-432-9148
>
> ====================================================================
>
>
>
> THE PROGRAM
>
>
> Hosted in partnership with Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, this
> Constitutional Convention Town Hall event will feature panel discussion
> and learned commentary from constitutional experts, but most of all, it
> will feature your own comments and advice for us as we move forward.
>
> Silicon Valley Constitutional Convention Town Hall
> Friday, July 31, 2009
> 9:00 a.m. Registration | 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Program
> AMD Commons Building
> 991 Stewart Drive
> Sunnyvale, CA 94085
> Cost: Free
>
> Map:
> http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Sunnyvale&state=CA&country=us&zoom=8&address=991+Stewart+Drive
>
>
> 9:30 a.m. Opening Remarks
> Russell Hancock, President & CEO, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
> Jim Wunderman, President & CEO, Bay Area Council
>
> 9:50 a.m. The Need for Reform: A Silicon Valley Perspective
> Liz Kniss, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
> Richard S. Gordon, San Mateo County Supervisor
> Lawrence E. Stone, Santa Clara County Assessor
>
> 10:20 a.m. The Legal Path to a Constitutional Convention
> Andrew Giacomini, Managing Partner, Hanson Bridget
>
> 10:40 a.m. Break
>
> 10:55 a.m. The View From Sacramento
> Mark Paul, New America Foundation
> Robert Cruickshank, Courage Campaign
> Derek Cressman, Common Cause
>
> 11:15 a.m. Dialogue & Discussion
>
> 11:55 a.m. Next Steps, Concluding Remarks
> Russell Hancock
> Jim Wunderman
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> TALKING POINTS
>
>
> The current system of winner-take-all elections from single-member
> districts produces the following defects of democracy:
>
> - A "winner" who may represent only a minority of voters.
>
> - Expensive run-off elections where one group of voters selects the top
> two candidates in the Primary and a different group of voters selects
> the winner in the General Election.
>
> - Perpetuation of the two-party system, which offers only two choices to
> the broad diversity of voting constituencies in this state.
>
> - Oddly gerrymandered districts to provide minority groups with
> representation, or to provide "safe districts" to one of the two parties.
>
>
> All of these serious problems are mitigated by a proportional
> representation system using multi-member districts. In practice, this
> means a "ranked-ballot" voting system that allows voters to rank all
> candidates by preference, and large districts that elect multiple
> representatives thereby giving representation to multiple constituencies
> within the district.
>
>
> Other attributes of proportional representation systems include:
>
> + More voter choices.
>
> + Broader democratic representation.
>
> + Not having to vote for the lesser-of-two-evils candidate.
>
> + No "spoiler" effect.
>
> + Increased voter turnout.
>
> + Less expensive elections.
>
> + Less negative campaigning.
>
>
>
>
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