Breaking Down Proposition Three for the City of Oneonta General Election

By JULIA DELPOZZO
SUNY Institute for Local News
ONEONTA

When City of Oneonta residents enter the voting booth for the general election next Tuesday, they will find four different propositions on the ballot. One of those is a statewide ballot proposal related to land use at the Olympic Sports Complex near Lake Placid in the Adirondacks. The other three are proposals focused specifically on Oneonta, asking voters to support amendments to the city’s charter.

Proposition Three is named “Redefining Ward Boundaries in the City of Oneonta Based on 2020 US Census Data.” The abstract of the proposal that appears on the ballot reads, “This amendment updates the boundaries of the City’s eight wards using 2020 Census data to ensure accurate, balanced representation for all residents.”

What does this proposal mean exactly?

The City of Oneonta is broken up into eight wards, or geographical areas. These divisions exist primarily for administrative and representative purposes. The legislative branch of Oneonta’s city government is its Common Council. The ward system is the method used to elect Common Council members: The voters in each ward choose one council member to represent them directly.

“Ward boundaries are set to ensure that no one area of the city has more representation than another,” explains Kerri Harrington, who has been Oneonta’s city clerk since 2020.

Population is the method Oneonta uses to determine ward boundaries, the goal being to distribute the city’s population evenly across the eight wards.

“At the end of the day, it’s about fairness,” said Harrington. The city clerk draws a parallel to the “one person, one vote” principle. “If one ward has far more residents but only gets one council member, then that vote carries less weight,” she argued.

The last time the city’s ward boundaries were modified was in 2014. The city uses national census data to measure population balance, with wards divided up by census blocks as identified by the U.S. Census Bureau. The city’s charter requires that the council appoint a redistricting commission to “evaluate the existing ward boundaries for equity and representation in relation to population within 6 months after the publication of the federal decennial census.” The last census was conducted in 2020; its first results were released in 2021. The next U.S. Census will take place in 2030.

The 2020 Redistricting Commission was appointed by the Common Council in November 2022.

“The commission is charged with reviewing existing ward boundaries for equity and population balance, and its composition must reasonably reflect the city’s demographics,” explained Harrington.

One resident from each ward was chosen for the commission. The eight members were: David Hayes (1st Ward); Susan Lettis (2nd Ward); Laurie Zimniewicz (3rd Ward); Chair Gary Herzig (4th Ward); James Foote (5th Ward); William Shue (6th Ward); Glenn Pichardo (7th Ward); and Sean Brunswick, who resigned and was replaced with Jonathan Visnosky (8th Ward).

Part of the commission’s work included hosting a number of public meetings, which culminated in a large public hearing on July 17, 2023.

“Input was received in person at the meetings and, I’m told, in separate contacts where individuals reached out to the individual commissioners,” Harrington said.

Among those residents who provided feedback were students from Hartwick College and SUNY Oneonta. According to Harrington, students advocated for particular changes to the ward boundaries. One Hartwick student asked that Wilder Hall be moved from Ward 8 to Ward 5. A SUNY Oneonta student proposed the realignment of Ward 7 with Ward 4, the rationale being “to keep the SUNY dorms together and preserve community.” The commission submitted its proposed plan to the council in May 2023.

City Clerk Harrington concludes: “Redistricting just makes sure everyone in Oneonta has an equal say in what happens here.”

Proposition Three is an up-or-down vote: Residents will choose “yes” or “no” on the ballot. Voting “yes” means amending Article I of the city’s charter to update the ward boundaries. A “no” vote keeps the ward boundaries the same as they have been since 2014.

The other ballot proposals in the city involve election terms and the creation of a city government board of ethics. Proposition Two is titled “Adoption of Staggered Four-Year Terms for Mayor and City Council Members.” Proposition Four is titled “Establish a Nine-Member Board of Ethics with Ward-Based Representation and One City Officer Appointee.” Both are yes/no votes.

Also on the ballot citywide in this year’s November 4 general election is the position of Mayor of Oneonta, with newcomers Dan Buttermann (DEM, BON), running against Luisa Montanti (REP). Running uncontested for Otsego County treasurer is Allen Ruffles (REP, CON). City of Oneonta voters will also be choosing their Otsego County representatives; candidates vary depending on the ward.

This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Service, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.