An ordinance that would let Little Rock voters decide in November whether to have at-large representation on the Board of Directors is back on the agenda for tonight.
City Director Erma Hendrix proposed the ordinance, which if approved by the board and voters, would change the 10-member board to seven members all elected from wards by removing the three seats currently elected by the city at-large.
Hendrix asked last week that a vote by the board be pushed back to the first meeting in July. When told that several directors might be out of town for the Fourth of July holiday, Hendrix asked that the proposal be put back on tonight's board agenda for a vote.
The board meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. in Little Rock.
Hendrix has long advocated for doing away with at-large representation. She and other critics have said the practice disenfranchises black voters. All three of Little Rock's at-large city directors are white. Hendrix is black. She says they cancel out her and the other two black directors' votes.
Her ordinance would let Little Rock voters decide on the November ballot whether to go to a seven-member board.
The mayor presides over the board, has veto power and votes in the event of a tie. That position is elected citywide, and Hendrix's ordinance would not change that.
Metro on 06/19/2018