Evening star., 1947-08-14
.At-LargeVoting
For Alexandria
Council Urged
6. .O.P. Women Renew
Campaign for Plan,
Citing Present Crisis

A renewed campaign to establish
an at-large system of selecting
Alexandria city councilmen today
was called for by the Board of Di-
rectors of the Republican Women
of Alexandria in a resolution stat
ing the city's government is. in a
crisis.
The first attempt to re-establish
the at-large council selection system
ended in failure in the spring of 1914
when voters decided by a two-to-
one majority to retain the present
system of selecting councilmen by
the ward plan. This plan has been
in effect in the city since adoption
of the charter in 1882.
Mrs. J. r. Smith, president of
the Republican Women of Alex
andria, said the resolution soon will
be presented the entire membership
OF the Republican group for con-
sideration. The resolution adopted
by the board states that the Repub-
lican women support wholeheart-
edly the principle of at-large selec-
ton of city councilmen" and adds
that the adoption of this system is
more important now than ever be-
fore because 1t is believed "the city
government of Alexandria is now in
a time of crisis"
"Crisis" Outlined.
The "crisis" mentioned, apparent
ly was reference, TO the recent
designations of number of top city
officials, climaxed with the quitting
of former City Manager Carl Bud
wesky on August l and also to the
mixed-up status of city finances.
The resolution adds that the
Legislators of the city should be
selected on the basis of the caliber
of their thinking and their COM
munity spirit rather than upon the
basis of the location of their
homes 1t emphasizes that the
at-large issue is one "in which all
factions of all parties should join,"
and urges all civic groups to back
the movement.
The General Assembly would be
asked to pass legislation to change
the city charter in order that Coun-
cilmen may be elected at-large, or
to provide for a referendum. The
resolution suggests that the number
of Councilmen be limited to five or
six, instead of the present nine.
Criticism Recalled.
One criticism of the 1914 attempt
to establish the at-large system was
that it was "untimely" to change the
city's government while so many
men were in the service who would
not vote in the referendum.
Chief arguments on the two sides
included charge by at-large sup
porters that the ward system was
detrimental to the city as a whole
because ward councilmen are in
terested only in their respective
areas, while. ward plan supporters
claimed the at-large system would
result in control of the city by a
powerful" minority. 80 -
The at-large system was in effect
before 1882, when a new charter
was adopted providing for election
of six councilmen by wards and
three at-large with the at-large
councilmen receiving the most votes
to be designated Mayor.
Supporters of the at-large plan
contend 1t would contribute to a
more effective city manager form of
government. Mr.. Budwesky said at
the time he resigned he hoped
Alexandria would have a city man
ager form of government in fact, and
not in name only. Since that time,
the council has adopted a resolution
giving the city manager fuller au-
thoritY over DEPARTMENT heads.