Members of the Grassroots Committee turned in a charter change petition signed with 200 names by the Jan. 4 deadline to the Orange city secretary.

The petitioners have requested the Orange city council take the necessary steps to implement three propositions. Proposition number 1 to be considered states “four single member districts based on majority voting. Only registered voters that live in the district can vote. The candidate must live in their district.” Proposition 2 is “two at large seats based on plurality voting. All voters can vote for these candidates. At large candidates can live anywhere in the city of Orange.” Proposition 3 is “the mayor election by plurality.”

Each of the propositions are requested to be placed on the March 2 county election.

However, before it can be placed on a ballot, city officials will have to first make sure the petition is valid. They will also verify proper form and content, according to the city manager, Shawn Oubre.

“The purpose of this change is for the city of Orange, Texas, to comply with the Voter’s Rights Act of 1964. The Voter’s Right Act of 1964 passed by Congress during the former late President Lyndon B. Johnson. Every area in the City of Orange, County, Texas, should be able to vote for their representative and see results in every geographic direction in Orange. Each signer agreed that Orange should have all areas of Orange represented by a council member that they can expect to act in their behalf and residents that live in their part of town in the future,” said Edward Hawthorne, in a written statement.

During the last meeting of the charter change committee on Dec. 8, members voted on the wording for the recommendation to be brought before the council.

Amendment 1 of the charter change expands the number of the city council members. It will read, “The Home Rule Charter Amendment providing that the legislative and governing body of the City shall consist of a mayor and six council members.”

Amendment change number two creates single member districts and three at large positions. The wording will be, “ The Home Rule Charter Amendment providing the election of a mayor and two council members from the city at large and the election of four council members from single member districts numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4. The districts will be established determined and district lines shall be drawn after each federal census, if required, to comply with state and federal voting laws and regulations. Each candidate for the city council in a particular district shall be a resident of that district.”

The amendment which provides for three year terms is number three, with amendment number four eliminating term limits. All of the committee members voted to unanimously on the issues, with the exception of term limits.

Amendment 5 states “four or more members of the city council shall constitute a quorum.” The charter currently states only three or more members are needed for a quorum.

Since the wording has been approved by the committee, the next step is for the recommendation to be put on the city council agenda for the Jan. 12 meeting. If approved, it can be placed on the May ballot.

“The city will continue to take steps to be proactive,” Oubre said.

The issue began when a large group of Orange citizens appeared at the Sept. 21, 2009 city council meeting to discuss what they feel is unjust and unfair for the people.

Henry Lowe, of Orange, told council members a “charter change is in order.” Following the annexation of Little Cypress, Lowe said he told council members a charter change was needed. Lowe added he had done some research regarding voting rights on the Internet on the U.S Department of Justice website.

“At large elections is an issue with the dissolution of minority voting rights,” Lowe said during the meeting.

Since then, city officials have worked to see what could be done to better serve the citizens and organized a charter change committee consisting of council members and members of the community.

Once the charter change approved, then city officials will have to hire a demographer. Claybar said he would prefer to have this part done after the results of the 2010 census are revealed.

Numerous attempts to reach Raymond Young, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and member of the Grassroots Committee, for comment were unsuccessful.



Debby Schamber is a reporter for the Orange Leader. She can be reached at 409-883-3571 ext. 2609 or at dschamber@orangeleader.com.