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Letter: Changing government won't change attitudes

July 28, 2008

Dear Editor,

Making sure residents from all parts of Danville are represented by elected city officials is the main reason James Hunn gives for seeking a change in the form of our city government: " but most of all, we would like to have district representation."

If that is the case, then circulating a petition to get Danville's government changed from the city manager form to the mayor-council form is an exercise in futility. Members of a city commission or council have the responsibility and authority to divide the city into wards.

Kentucky state law (KRS 83A.100) says in part, "The legislative body of a city may by ordinance divide the city into the same number of wards as the number of legislative body members. Wards shall be as nearly equal in population as practicable and their boundaries shall be fixed by the ordinance."

So, rather than try to change a form of government that serves Danville well, Mr. Hunn needs to ask the Danville City Commission to enact an ordinance that divides the city into wards. They may decide not to do that, but changing the form of government won't establish wards either.

Our current mayor, Hugh Coomer, has the same authority that mayors of Danville have had for more than 30 years, maybe 40 years. During that time, other commissions have managed to get through rough patches when decisions were not unanimous and there were disagreements.

That's how government functions. We elect people to make decisions and to "play well with others," not take one's blocks and go home. And changing the form of government won't change that type of attitude either.

Annabel GirardDanville

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