Last November, residents voted to limit the size of council to one member for every 25,000 residents, which means council must eliminate two of its 21 seats this year.
Popular thinking is that one east side ward and one west side ward will be lost. Since two council members will lose their seats, incumbents may be forced to run against each other in the next election.
Ward 17 Councilman Matt Zone is one of five west side council members whose seat could be eliminated.
Zone says the census count, politics, and convenience may weigh into the decision, but that there are legitimate matters of importance to residents -- that go far beyond raw numbers.
MATT ZONE: "When you look at re-apportioning wards, you need to look at things that really matter in smart statistical planning processes.... natural divides, historical neighborhoods, ethnic neighborhoods. Those things I'm sure people are going to voice their concern for, and want to protect and preserve in one community."
Zone, Brian Cummins, representing the 15th ward, and Joe Santiago of the 14th will host tonight's meeting, which will be held 7:00 at the Applewood Center on W. 25th Street.
