The five candidates competing for three open seats on the Los Altos City Council in the Nov. 5 election agreed to participate in a series of Q&As with the Town Crier highlighting key issues that may affect the city as they take the dais. This week, incumbents Jonathan Weinberg and Sally Meadows and challengers Ibrahim Bashir, Larry Lang and Eric Steinle addressed a question on district elections.
Question: Should Los Altos be required to implement district elections, what should council do to avoid neighborhood polarization, i.e., lack of focus on our total community?
Ibrahim Bashir: Polarization is definitely a concern with districting, and in order to prevent that we need both council members and residents to lean into cooperation. Our focus should be on electing candidates with a demonstrated history of collaboration, and as a community we should create forums to discuss citywide issues.
Larry Lang: With district elections, council can avoid neighborhood polarization by continuing to rotate the mayorship, holding office hours in different districts, and embracing constituent services citywide. If state law were changed, rank-choice voting could foster citywide collaboration and better empower minorities while encouraging at-large thinking across Los Altos.
Sally Meadows: The antidote to polarization, on council and in our neighborhoods, is to remember that each district has only one vote and nothing will get accomplished without at least two other votes. Building coalitions will be required for progress and will facilitate a focus on our entire city.
Eric Steinle: Three council members must agree for any action to move forward. Democracy is the key. And polarization is a form of democracy; not the noblest, but nonetheless actual democracy.
Jonathan Weinberg: To avoid neighborhood polarization, the council’s work plan and agenda must emphasize priorities to benefit the entire city, not just single districts. Voters must ensure they elect council members with vision to serve our entire community. Los Altos should advocate for changes to the law requiring districts.
