I, a proud resident of Tucumcari, have personally observed the ramifications of our current system of voting for city commissioners. Our beloved city, with its minimal population, has no need for representation based on different districts. Tucumcari should have a commission that votes based on the city as a whole, not on the whims of isolated districts.

It is therefore time to move towards an at-large voting method for city commissioners. At-large voting systems have been known to promote a wider representation and encourage commissioners to think about the city’s needs as a whole. According to the National League of Cities, this voting method is more cost-effective and simplifies the voting process for residents (2019).

In smaller cities like ours, having district-based representation can unnecessarily bottleneck decisions, withholding the potential progress our city can achieve. We have the opportunity to improve our city, and it begins with a shift to at-large voting.

I urge our community members, whether a recently arrived newcomer or a lifetime resident like myself, to join this movement. Together we can make our city's decision-making process more representative and efficient. Please sign the petition urging the switch to an at-large voting method for Tucumcari City Commissioners.