Yesterday, LB 405, which would increase the size of the Omaha City Council to 9 members, passed the first round of voting in the unicameral, 25-16. The bill, introduced by Sen. Dwite Pedersen of Elkhorn, and co-sponsored by Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha, was the subject of some heated debate yesterday in the legislature.

I worry that a few members of the legislature are missing the point, here. Mistaking the parts for the whole, as it were.

First, there’s Mick Mines, of Blair, trying to be offended on behalf of Omaha:

“This one feels like a poke in the eye to Omaha,” Mines said.

The idea originated with Omaha City Councilman Jim Suttle about a year and a half ago, and he spoke on its behalf in committee. It’s cosponsored by an Omaha state senator. Just because Mines’ district extends into a small section of Omaha doesn’t mean that he gets to speak on behalf of Omaha.

Ernie Chambers, Lowen Kruse, and Don Preister, I think, miss the point here. Mistaking the representatives for the people. Slightly diminishing Frank Brown’s influence (from one of seven to one of nine) on the council doesn’t diminish the people’s representation. The people’s representation is being harmed greatly by the failure of the city council to grow along with the city.

Chambers, Kruse, Mines, and Preister, are confusing Pedersen’s legitimate reason for the bill - to give Elkhorn a single representative - with the overall effect of the bill. Nothing has done more harm to minority influence on the council than the westward growth of the city council.

Consider the city council boundaries in the last election, and the new ones recently passed by the City Council.

District 1:  Jim Suttle’s district - which includes Florence and parts of North-Central Omaha, moved west to I-680 north of Dodge and south of Blondo. The western boundary of that part of the district used to be just west of 77th St. at Cole Creek Dr.

Districts 2, 3, 4: All three districts had their boundaries shifted to the north.

You can’t possibly make a case that the boundaries of Garry Gernandt’s district are helping minority representation. District 4 encompasses virtually all of South Omaha from the river to 72nd Street. The westward expansion of the city has pushed the boundaries of east Omaha districts to the west.

This move makes sense. It makes sense for Omaha. It makes sense for North Omaha, South Omaha, Florence, Dundee, Benson, Millard, Elkhorn, and the rest of the city. It puts the power back in the hands of the people. Stop arguing about how the influence of one councilman will be diminshed, and realize that the influence of one voter will be greatly increased. Maybe that’s what some on the city council are afraid of?