Paqe 2 THE BATTALION
V THURSDAY, APR. 1, 1976
City Council
Six of the seven positions on the College Station
City Council are up for election Saturday. The elec
tion comes at a crucial time for the city.
Code enforcement and prudent zoning practices
are having a tough time keeping up with a growth rate
that approaches 15 per cent annually. The pleasantries
of a small town with open spaces are being threatened
by Houston-like strip development cluttered by to
wering signs and quick food joints. The city is also on
the verge of breaking a long-standing contract with
Bryan for city utilities, switching instead to indepen
dent sources.
In Place 2, incumbent obstructionist Homer Adams
continues to live in an era when things were simple
and the solutions were “to let it ride. ” In his five years
on the council he has continually opposed zoning reg
ulations and has supported the ward system and Milli-
can Dam — positions which must be seriously ques
tioned. Dissent is one thing, dead weight another.
Adams’ opponent, Lane Stephenson, has based his
campaign on the zoning issue, calling for strict adher
ence to existing regulations. His view that too much
consideration has been given to developers, and not
enough to homeowners, could pave the way towards a
modicum of developmental control. While Adams has
refused to talk to reporters except during his business
hours, Stephenson has vowed to be readily available
to citizens at all times. LANE STEPHENSON would
be a welcome addition to the council.
MURL BAILEY JR. is our choice for Place 3 on the
council. He has demonstrated that he is well informed
on the issues, particularly in the areas of utilities and
zoning. His concern that the city’s development plan
should be updated and that building codes be en
forced is evidence of the strong guidance he’d provide
to the orderly growth of the city. While Jim Crawley,
an A&M student, also has good views on zoning and is
well informed on most issues, one can’t help but feel
that he’s voicing the views of the Student Government
leaders who support him. Crawley has said he person
ally would support the at-large method of election.
endorsements
even though publicly he agrees with S.G. leaders that
the ward method is the best option. We applaud stu
dent involvement in city government, but it is only
fair that a student candidate should be more qualified
than his opponent in order to win. The other candi
date, Larry Ringer, does not appear to be as informed
as his opponents on most issues.
We support JIM GARDNER for re-election to
Place 4. As a professor of urban and regional planning,
Gardner is well-qualified to make decisions on the
planning and zoning issues that take up a great amount
of the council’s time. In two years on the council,
he has demonstrated his competence and dedica
tion in coordinating the various aspects of urban de
velopment. He has steadfastly fought strip-zoning and
is a strong supporter of open spaces and off-street bike
paths. Clinton Robison’s major concern is the repair of
streets in poor areas of town, a noble effort, but not
one deserving of a council seat. His knowledge of
other issues, such as utilities, the proposed ward sys
tem and Millican Dam is lacking.
For Place 6, incumbent JIM DOZIER is far and
away the best choice. Dozier’s six years of experience
as a councilman and two years as city attorney is
evidence enough. He is expertly acquainted with the
city’s growth, code enforcement and utilities prob
lems. An A&M finance professor, Dozier is not afraid
to take a stand on issues such as Millican Dam or the
local ambulance service. We tend to believe his oppo
nent, Bob Bell, is trying to fill another two years as a
ceremonial councilman. Bell, who is active in local
real estate, has refused to take concrete stands on most
of the serious problems facing the city. We still ques
tion why he decided to: withdraw from his council
seat to run for mayor, then at the last minute drop out
of the mayor’s race, and chose to run for council again
— against Dozier. Bell may know, but he refuses to
tell.
Both ANNE HAZEN and LARRY BRAVENEC are
running unopposed, for Place 5 and Mayor respec
tively.
Vote no on charter revision
Analysis
By JERRY NEEDHAM
Battalion Staff Writer
The ward system of representation is not a reasona
ble proposal for College Station, nor does it offer
outstanding benefits for Texas A&M students.
The various arguments for a ward system in other
cities are not valid here because of the city’s size,
growth rate and lack of ethnic blocs.
Under the proposed ward system, councilmen
would be responsible for redistricting. With the rapid
growth of College Station, redistricting would be a
continuing problem. It could become a political tool.
One of the primary arguments for the ward system
is that it would provide representation for minority
groups. Such is not the case in College Station.
The university students in College Station cannot
be termed a minority group. 40 to 50 per cent of the
estimated population of 39,000 are students. The fact
that students have not yet had a student representa
tive on the city council does not mean they are a
minority group. It means they have not organized
behind a responsible student candidate.
The real minorities in College Station, the blacks
and Chicanos, would not be assured of a representa
tive on the council under the ward system. These
minorities are not concentrated in any particular area
of town, but are scattered over several areas.
Another major argument for the ward system is that
it would provide a closer relationship between
neighborhoods and their councilman.
This argument is effective only in very large cities.
In a city the size of College Station, citizens can easily
contact and relate to a councilman whether he lives
across town, across campus or next door. The council
might find it difficult to define six specific neighbor
hoods in College Station.
Another point frequently brought out in support of
the ward system is that most councilmen live in one
area of the city.
This is not a reasonable argument for adopting a
ward system. Conversely, this fact should indicate
that qualified and interested candidates are not com
ing from other areas of the city (assuming a qualified
and intelligent electorate).
Although students would be reasonably sure of a
representative under the ward system, that does not
mean they’d be assured of responsible representation.
Thus far, most students have never taken an active
interest in city politics. Viable student candidates are
hard to find.
Student support of the ward system would be an
admission that they could not offer a candidate who
was capable of competing city-wide. Acceptance of the
single representative would be a testimony to their
apathy.
If the students cannot become involved and or
ganize behind deserving candidates, then they don't
deserve a token council position just to placate their
frustrations. The fault lies with the students, not with
the electoral system.
Texas A&M Student Body President Jeff Dunn is
actively campaigning for the ward system.
A member of the city’s Charter Revision Commis
sion which proposed placing the ward system before
the public for a vote, Dunn did not support the ward
system during commission meetings. He was in favor
of a more moderate, combination ward-at large sys
tem.
Dunn said his major consideration is to get student
representation on the council. He supports the ward
system because it is the only choice offered on the
Saturday ballot which will achieve this goal as soon as
possible.
All the candidates for council positions are against
the full-ward system except incumbent Homer Adams
and A&M student James Crawley.
Adams has said he supports the ward system be
cause he fears a possible student takeover of city gov
ernment.
Crawley supports the ward system because it would
provide representation on a neighborhood basis.
M. L. Cashion, chairman of the Charter Revision
Commission, emphasized that the commission does
not recommend approval of the ward system or any
other system, only that the question be put before the
public for a vote.
A strong point that is made for student support of
the ward system is that the election of a student to the
city council might jolt the apathetic students into a
political awareness. But what would students do with
this awareness if they had already given away their
chance to have more representation on the council?
Dunn says the ward system will not deny students
representation on the council. He is not taking into
consideration the council’s prerogative to establish
districts within the city. There is no assurance that the
council would, in the process of drawing up districts,
make the A&M campus a single district.
In fact, taking into account the present city popula
tion figures and the districting ideal of one man — one
vote, part of the campus would have to be in another
district. The campus population of7,900 would be too
large to fit in one of six equal districts in a city of39,000
persons.
The students’ best chance for immediate represen
tation while still leaving the options open for more
representation in the future, is the combination
ward-at large system.
This would require active involvement by students
in pushing for a charter revision establishing the com
bination system. At the same time students would
have to become actively involved in city government.
Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or
of the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the
university administration or the Board of Regents. The Battal
ion is a non-profit, self-supporting enterprise operated by stu
dents as a university and community newspaper. Editorial
policy is determined by the editor.
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217, Services Building, College Station, Texas 77843.
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Acting Editor Roxie Hearn
News Editor T. C. Gallucci
City Editor Jim Peters
Contributing Editors Sandy Russo, Steve Gray
Sports Editor Paul McGrath
Photo Director Douglas Winship
Stall Writers
Carolyn Blosser, Ray Daniels, Pat Edmondson, Tony Gallucci, Lee Roy Les-
chper, Jerry Needham.
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SG president backs ward system]
By JEFF DUNN
Student Body President
How often have students com
plained of a lack of response from
government? The opportunity to
show one’s interest and desire in
governmental responsiveness is
election day, and this Saturday such
an election will be held in College
Station. Students should seriously
consider voting in the College Sta
tion city elections as local govern
ment vitally affects each student’s
daily activities. Such issues as utility
rates, telephone rates, city parks,
and traffic control affect both the
on-campus and the off-campus stu
dent.
On the ballot this Saturday is a
Charter Revision that would provide
for the election of city councilmen by
wards. Such a system will not deny
student representation on the city
council. Students pump millions of
dollars into the local economy each
year and should be represented. The
Student Senate has endorsed the re
visions on grounds that such a
change would not only benefit the
students, but also the entire com
munity, by promoting neighborhood
representation throughout the city.
While no one expects dramatic
to l
nst a
change from the implementatio
wards, this plan should increase
responsiveness of the city con AS!
men. Dominant interests withii ry sf
city have a much easier chanjiotm
controlling the policy of
dominating group, including tin
tential of student take-over. Dis
ing viewpoints, however, shoul
heard on the council, and
should not have to resort topr
lobbying, which at best isadisw v|;4
tage.
Contrary to many critics, stui JivS
are not concerned with student
trol over city affairs, but only re
the input on an equal level
other councilmen. Citizens ol
community should realize tha
dents at A&M are citizens as
and that there are many respor.
students who are capable andw
to provide constructive input
the growth of College Station
fashion compatible with a
versity.
Take interest and vote thisS 1 - ori
day, because if you don’t, thei f r '
must be willing to accept the
sequences.
teen
p.m
exas
vers
LfOcal parents support
school bond proposal
Editor:
The purpose of this letter is to
issue an urgent plea to the A&M stu
dents who are registered to vote in
College Station.
On Saturday, along with the city
council, ward system, and school
board elections, there will also be a
school bond election. It has been de
termined by the local school board, a
seventeen-member Citizens Advis
ory Committee, and a local P.T.A.
group, that the passage of this bond
election is crucial to the education of
the children of College Station. My
wife and I have two children in the
school system and we also agree that
the bonds must pass.
Frankly, we need your help in this
important matter because there is a
large, very well organized group of
middle-aged voters in College Sta
tion whose children are already
grown. Their main concern is prop
erty taxes and they were recently
successful in defeating a similar bond
proposal.
Please help us to make this a bet
ter community. Please take the time
and trouble to vote on April 3. As
parents, tax-payers, and your fellow
citizens, we would greatly ap
preciate your support on this bond
proposal.
Mr. and Mrs. Julian McMurrey and
Sons
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