Protect your right to vote on every city council position - vote no! Currently, seven people represent all of Richland. As a team, they work together for the benefit of Richland as a whole.

Districting lowers council member accountability to the entire city, reducing the incentive to consider the wellbeing of voters outside their districts. Without districting, every citizen has all seven members accountable to them. If this initiative passes, every resident will be left with only three council members accountable to them. This discouraging issue can lead to frustrated voters and reduced engagement.

The ironically named "A Better Richland" is a politically motivated group whose motivations do not align with the majority of Richland voters. The proposed lines were drawn for strategic advantages, not community needs.

Please do not be misled to believe our city council members are all from one area. Four of the five proposed districts already have elected council members -- and this usually changes with every election.

The proposed districts fail to account for areas where Richland is expected to grow. Over time, district boundaries will need to change -- raising further concerns about gerrymandering and political manipulation of district lines.

Wards often cause more divisiveness in smaller cities like Richland, bringing more instability than benefit.

Richland needs everyone to have a voice in choosing the best people to represent our entire community. For this we must focus on merit over fragmented geography when electing public officials.

www.KeepRichlandOne.com

Rebuttal of argument for

This proposal will divide Richland, chopping it into factions and thereby losing the unity that makes Richland thrive.

The proposal prohibits voting for every councilmember, creates boundaries, and fosters gerrymandering, instability, and reduced accountability.

Richland is not a relic of a by-gone era. Bellevue, Kirkland, Olympia, Chehalis, and Longview vote for all councilmembers. Dividing us will not create unity.

Vote "no" to keep your right to vote for every council member. Vote "no" to remain united.