Supporters of single-member districts for Winter Park commission ask for further discussions

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Whether or not to add single-member districts to the March ballot is still a discussion in Winter Park after the city commission shot the proposal down at a city council meeting last week.

Supporters of single-member districts want the issue back on the table for further discussion.

READ: Winter Park activists pushing to change how city commission is elected to give Black community a voice

Barbara Chandler, who represents the Coalition for Access and Representation led by residents in the historic Black neighborhood of Hannibal Square, continues to rally support for single-member districts.

“We’ve always been called on to stand and serve the powerful but never to sit down side by side to decide the affairs of the city. All any of us wanted was a fair shot at the ballot box,” Chandler said.

READ: Winter Park commissioners nix putting single-member districts on March ballot

Last week, Mayor Steve Leary and Commissioner Carolyn Cooper voted against putting the issue on the ballot in March, while commissioners Marty Sullivan and Sheila Decicco voted in favor of the amendment. Commissioner Todd Weaver, who was in favor of adding the amendment to the March ballot, was absent.

The tie meant that the amendment failed.

Weaver posted an explanation of his absence on Facebook.

The mayor said last week that he supports future community discussions and that after those discussions, citizens can initiate a citizens petition or convince a majority of the city commission to place this on the ballot.