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Vice-Chair Acquaviva's proposal to place at-large voting referendum on Malabar ballot fails 3-2
Summary
Vice-Chair Marisa Acquaviva moved to prepare a referendum asking voters to revert to at-large elections (the 2016 model); council debated representation arguments and denied the motion 2-3.
Malabar’s Vice-Chair Marisa Acquaviva on April 20 proposed putting a referendum on the ballot to revert the town’s election system to at-large voting as used in 2016, saying voters should decide the question.
Acquaviva said she has heard residents express confusion about district representation and believes the town’s small size favors at-large elections; supporters argued a ballot question would let voters decide. Opponents said district-based representation helps ensure neighborhood concerns are heard.
Attorney Karl Bohne told the council the change would not necessarily alter the way the council governs but would be a matter for voters to decide. Public comment included a Smith Lane resident who said district members may not always vote as a district bloc and emphasized representation responsibility.
The motion to place the referendum on the ballot was seconded and defeated on a 2-3 vote. The motion’s recorded outcome was denial; council members opposing the referendum cited the value of district-level representation.
