Whereas, since its inception in 1989, Town of Leland elected government has consisted of a five-member Town Council comprised of four councilmembers and a mayor, all elected in at-large elections; and 

Whereas, North Carolina law permits cities, towns, and villages to elect their governing board members through at-large elections or through district elections using either voting districts or residence districts; and

Whereas, though racially diverse, Leland does not have a history of discrimination based on race or other criteria; and

Whereas, voting by residence district is often raised as a remedy for past discrimination, of which there has been none in Leland; and

Whereas, Leland is still rapidly growing (recent large annexations have not yet begun housing construction) and there will be a national census in 2030; and

Whereas, voting districts confront a community with an entirely new set of political problems (i.e., basis [population, geography], authority to create, authority to modify [gerrymander]); and

Whereas, dark money appeared in Leland elections in 2025; smaller voter populations in councilmember districts would give dark money undue influence, at far less expense, over district election outcomes; and

Whereas, the present government of Leland has presented weak arguments in favor of electing Town Council members by voting districts; and

Whereas, with the at-large representation presently in place at Leland, every resident has four councilmembers on the Town Council; and

Whereas, with district assignments, each resident would have only one councilmember; and

Therefore, the undersigned are opposed to assigning councilmembers to districts, to be elected only by residents of those districts.