Dade City commissioners rebuff idea to elect by districts

They say it warrants exploration if the population grows considerably.

By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, Times Staff Writer
Published October 24, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT "We're not at that stage yet," Commissioner Steve Van Gorden says of the district idea.

DADE CITY - Commissioners reviewed proposed revisions to Dade City's charter, which officials estimate hasn't been updated in 30 years, at a workshop Tuesday afternoon.

The suggested amendments came from a charter review committee commissioners created in 2006 to evaluate the charter and make recommendations for changes.

The most contentious suggestion - dividing the city into five districts for election purposes - was greeted negatively by the commissioners.

"I do not like the idea of districts," said Mayor Hutch Brock. "I believe it ispremature at this time."

Currently, the five commissioners are elected at large. Under the district system, the commissioners would still be elected by the entire population, but would have been required to live within a predetermined geographic district.

The committee thought the change would be a way to make sure every resident of the city was represented, no matter where they live, and that one neighborhood would not receive greater focus than another.

Currently, all the commissioners live within 11/2 miles of each other.

The committee also recommended that the charter be reviewed every 10 years. If Dade City's population grows considerably by that time, commissioners said, the city should explore the district idea.

"We're not at that stage yet," said Commissioner Steve Van Gorden.

The charter review committee also suggested the city establish the salary of commissioners and the mayor through ordinances, rather than the charter.

"The salary that you're making now, it's been in the charter for the past 30 years," said Karla Owens, city attorney.

Commissioners have the power to decide which, if any, of the group's recommendations will make it to the ballot in 2008. The charter will be discussed further at future commission meetings.

Helen Anne Travis can be reached at (352) 521-6518 or htravis@sptimes.com.

[Last modified October 23, 2007, 21:28:05]