http://guvwurld.blogspot.com/2005/02/irv-forum-on-in-eureka-arcata.htmlIRV Forum ON in Eureka, Arcata Considers Protecting Conscientious ObjectorsI just came from a meeting with Eureka, CA City Councilmembers Chris Kerrigan and Mike Jones.
Realizing Community essayist Scott Menzies was also present. Efforts are now officially underway to hold a town hall forum on election reform, and
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) in particular, in Eureka.
Over the next two weeks, Chris and Mike will arrange one or more potentially viable locations, most likely in a church outside of either of their wards. Scott and I will be contacting potential speakers for the event and also developing a marketing plan to get the word out and begin the process of offering more education on what is IRV. The four of us will gather again on March 1 to make a final decision on the location and date for the forum.
Today's announcement is especially gratifying considering the appeals made to the Eureka City Council beginning last October amid the anticipated controversy of the then-impending election.
At that time, all we asked was that Council engage us in dialog, hear our concerns, and allow the growing election reform movement to be advanced through them as an official channel. Today there is undeniable momentum for election reform efforts in Humboldt County, CA.
On a related note, the
No Confidence Resolution is soon to be addressed by the Arcata, CA City Council though their
published agenda does not include this topic for tomorrow night's meeting. Arcata Vice Mayor Dave Meserve advised me to expect this delay as he wants to address another national matter first. The following resolution calling for protection of conscientious objectors in Arcata will instead be getting a hearing tomorrow night. Apparently only a discussion is expected with a vote held over until at least the next Council session.
Click
here to read the conscientious objector resolution.