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Republican Trudy Wade who use to be a Guilford County Commissioner and Greensboro City Council person wants to submitted a state bill to reduce Greensboro City Council from 9 members to 7. In addition the one at-large council person and the mayor would only be able to vote in council meetings if there is a tie. The mayor would have veto power. Clearly this move is motivated by politics to steer the left leaning city council to the right however democrat and republican leaders in Greensboro say she is over reaching and the state has no business trying to run city government. While this may pass in the state senate, it might have a difficult time passing in the house. But if it does pass, the consequences of such legislation could have negative effects on what passes in Greensboro. If this system had been in place, we might not have a performing arts center under construction because it would have been more difficult to get it passed through city council. Every Greensboro citizens needs to voice their opinion and Raleigh.
It used to be that local bills were only introduced at the request and endorsement of the affected local government(s). That was obviously not the case in the last session (e.g. Charlotte Airport Authority, Asheville/Buncombe utilities, Boone ETJ etc.) but when did the practice actually change? Was the law changed or was it previously a "gentlemen's agreement" sort of thing?
It used to be that local bills were only introduced at the request and endorsement of the affected local government(s). That was obviously not the case in the last session (e.g. Charlotte Airport Authority, Asheville/Buncombe utilities, Boone ETJ etc.) but when did the practice actually change? Was the law changed or was it previously a "gentlemen's agreement" sort of thing?
If I were the city, I'd fight this in court. I didn't know the state was authorized to tell a city how it can vote and how many city council members it can have. That should left up to local government, not the state.
city officials will respond today. The sad part is that Wade didn't even talk with city official before proposing this.
wow take a look at this video...this is a mess! It appears as though the city may have some legal ground here because what Trudy Wade is doing violates the state constitution. The general assembly can't single out one city for such legislation, (it would have to apply for all North Carolina municipalities) further more the city has the right to draw its own redistricting lines. Trudy Wade's proposal has the state redrawing Greensboro city council district lines and its gerrymandering at its worst. She combines some council members in the same district which would dilute the vote during election season. There are also other legal problems with this bill. Trudy Wade was a troublemaker when she was on the county commissioner and city council and she is even a bigger trouble maker as a state senator. Now I see her motivations for becoming a state senator. The city legal staff will be waiting to see if the legislation passes and you can bet the city of Greensboro will take the state of North Carolina to court if it does.
GOP = small Govt. what a laugh. State Legislature has 2 much power.
How ironic isn't it? Now Trudy Wade wants the general assembly to become a dictatorship. I can't stand her. I couldn't stand her when she was on the Greensboro city council. The sight of her makes my stomach turn. People wake up and vote her a** out of office!
Wade may have problems getting this bill passed. There are some legal and ethical issues plus it violates state constitution. The General Assembly would be overstepping their authority.
Looks like the people will get to decide if the want the state general assembly changing local council districts and the city council voting system. My guess is that the people will decide to keep it the same. The proposed bill would also give the city the legal authority to go to court to stop anyone from changing the system without a referendum.
"City Council members received a draft today of legislation that would thwart state Sen. Trudy Wade’s efforts to redraw council districts and dramatically change the mayor’s role in city business."
Trudy isn't getting much support for her plan. Hundreds came to city hall to address Trudy Wade and other state legislators over her plan
.
"Barber wrote his plan as draft legislation, and passed it out to council members at a meeting on Thursday. It calls for a voter referendum on Wade’s bill and threatens legal action if the state changes the council’s structure without the voters’ approval.
Barber called Wade’s bill “disgusting and sophomoric.”
“Senate Bill 36 reeks of a personal agenda by the state Senate,” he said after Thursday’s meeting.
“We are not going to accept this heavy-handed strategy without our day in court.”
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