Dear Editor,

Like prior efforts to encourage town council representation by districts in Holly Springs, the current effort led by Kenneth Martin lacks objective and compelling data which supports this change. Those who watched the April 20 town council meeting, either in person or on HSTV 11, would have seen that the speakers supportive of this change, based the need on subjective and emotional examples. They never provided any tangible or substantive examples or reasons why we need to change. There are a number of reasons why district representation on the Holly Springs Town Council is NOT a good idea. I have published a list of reasons on my blog at www.hollyspringswatch.blogspot.com

Regarding the weak argument that five of six council members are from Sunset Ridge is cause for this change, here are some facts. Sunset Ridge (not Sunset Ridge North) is in voting precinct 06-05. In the 2009 municipal elections, this district produced a mayoral candidate (Sears) and three council candidates (Cobb, Van Fossen and Williams). This voting district also cast the highest number of ballots and had the highest percentage of registered voters who actually voted (30 percent). The Sunset Ridge subdivision should not be maligned for having engaged and involved citizens.

With At-Large representation, council members must expect and fulfill the responsibility of representing all town citizens. District reps are less likely to have this mindset. Their focus and political future relies on the benefits afforded to their district. Holly Springs is too small for this sort of segmentation of the town. Changing our form of representation should be considered when Holly Springs have gotten so massive that At-Large representation is not effective. We can look into this when we have are flirting with a population of 100,000. Based on what I heard during the debate on April 20, it appears that most of our town council members are ready to represent and govern the entire town as At-Large representatives.

Hank Dickson Holly Springs