Ed. — From the Sunday, July 4, print edition.
OCEANFRONT — With coming changes facing the Virginia Beach local voting system, residents had opportunities to share their thoughts with the Virginia Beach City Council about the system at the heart of an ongoing federal lawsuit, most recently during a meeting Tuesday, June 15, at the Virginia beach Convention Center.
U.S. District Court Judge Raymond A. Jackson in March found that the current system, in which voters who live outside districts can determine who represents the district, is illegal because it dilutes the voting strength of minority groups within Virginia Beach. As this edition went to press, the parties in the suit were scheduled to present remedial plans to the judge. The public comment sessions were meant to inform the city as it prepared for that process.
The city is appealing the court’s findings, but officials have noted the system will change anyway due to new state laws, one of which directly challenged the system of selecting local officials here.
During the public hearing Tuesday, June 15, about a dozen people expressed concern about the voting system and the process to change it, including the cost of the appeal.
Barry Nolan, 74, of the North End questioned where the money for the appeal might have gone otherwise. Nolan pointed to the history of the City Council in Virginia Beach, with few people of color serving on the council since 1966.
“That reality makes it clear that our democracy has a problem,” Nolan said. “A big part of … our people do not have a voice.”
Tammie Mullins-Rice, the president of the Seatack Community Civic League, said people in her community want to vote for a person to represent their district, not have the whole city pick their representative.
“What we’re asking is to listen to the people,” Mullins-Rice told the council.
“We know how to get motivated. … If you continue this way, some of you may not be here the next time.”
Gary McCollum, a community leader who has sought public office and is a member of the Virginia Beach Interdenominational Ministers Conference, said that the appeal paints Virginia Beach as racist and willing to suppress minority voters.
“We need a new system,” McCollum said.
“You want to continue to run the city how it’s always been run, and what the citizens are saying — enough is enough,” he added.
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