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Chris Wright      Response 10

Question 10: Should the Metropolitan Council be an elected body? Why or why not? If you believe they should be elected, should the seats be single district, proportional, or a mix?

Without question, the Metropolitan Council should be an elected body
accountable to the voters. Although I believe the governor can appoint
suitable council members, the voters should have a voice in who makes
decisions for them.

Voters are not children to be dictated to by a paternalistic government.

Because of the dramatic growth of the Twin Cities it became necessary
for rich suburban areas and the poorer inner-city and declining
suburban areas to compromise on sewer, transit, and land use planning
under the operational authority of the Metropolitan Council.

Since there is a tendency for rich suburban areas to dominate in
legislative matters, I believe a mix of both single district and
proportional representation is fairest for both poor and rich
districts of the metro area with a common goal of fighting urban
decay. However, I am reticent that such a body may become too large to
be effective.