Min 09/23/1963 (2) Wichita Falls, Texas
Memorial Auditorium B1
! September 2S, 196
Item No. The Board of Aldermen of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in special se
1 & 2 on the above date, in the Council Room of the Memorial Auditorium Building at 11:30 of
A.M., with the following members present:
John J. Gavin Mayor
J. Winston Wallander X
Dr. Al T. Witcher X
O. D. McBride j Aldermen
Roy V. (Pete) Claytor X
Don Wade X
L. Jack Davis City Manager
H. P. Hodge, Jr. City Attorney
W. B. flicks City Clerk
Dr. D. Clifford Burross Absent
The invocation was given by Alderman Claytor.
3 Mayor John Gavin read a statement of the City Council regarding the amending
the Charter, and the ward system of city government. (Statement attached.)
The Mayor then read the draft of Ordinance No. 2039 calling an election for a
proposed amendment to the Charter of the City of Wichita Falls. After some discussion
the proposed ordinance, Alderman Witcher read a statement on the evils of the ward syst
(Copy of statement attached.)
ORDINANCE NO. 2039
AN ORDINANCE CALLING AN ELECTION FOR A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER
OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS.
Moved by Alderman Witcher that Ordinance No. 2039 be passed.
Motion seconded by Alderman Claytor and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Aldermen Wallander, Witcher, McBride, Claytor, and Wade.
Nays: None
There being no further business at this time, Alderman Claytor moved that the
meeting be adjourned.
Motion seconded by Alderman Wade and carried unanimously.
The Board of Aldermen then adjourned at 11:44 A.M.
APPROVED this the /< Cl`,day of 1963.
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ATTEST: j Mayor
!I
City Clerk
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STATEMENT
City Council - September 23, 1963
We have called a special meeting; this morning, even though our regular
council meeting is at 700 this evening. It is felt that the action we arc about
to lake is of such importance that attention should be directed to it in this
manner.
On Monday night, September 9, 1963, this City Council rejected a petition
calling for an election to establish the ward system of selecting councilmen in
the City of Wichita Falls, The petition was rejected since it _rid not have the
proper number of signatures as prescribed by the Statutes of the State of Texas
by which we are bound, The same Statute which sets the number of petitioners
also gives the City Council the authority on their own motion to call an election
to amend the Charter. We hereby exercise that authority and do call an elections
to be held on October 29, 1963 to let the citizens of Wichita Falls decide if
they want ward politics in their city government.
Many hours of thought , study and consultation have gone into this decision of
the Council. We think it is the right one. The Board of Aldermen has always
pledged itself to try to carry out the wishes of the majority of the citizens, V
intend to determine the wish of the majority by means of this election. We are
berth hopeful and confident that when people are made aware of the dangers of this
system it will be dpfuated soundly. There. is not one other c1ty in Texas having
nu)rt than 25,000 population that operates under the pure ward ndapp that has a —1
proposed by the petitioners. Surely the voters o .his city do not wish to
their right to vote• on all councilmen for the lima teat k"n ; 0' v,>> 0 0 Oc " %
We would be losing representation rnth, t than achievi"; it . A onn""i t v PT "
could never prevail where each of ten mcn were secking anal i to 1A1 , n= t i ' ,
their particular ward.
3 ,
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Many tactors were significant in reaching our decision to c� ilL this election.
We feel that several people have signed the petition because of business or personal
reasons but would vote against the issue. Others say they did not understand it.
We do not want any more people put on the spot, so we are taking this action in
order that it no longer be necessary to sign this petition. This is of such import
that this question should be decided once and for all so that we might proceed with
our plans and hopes for industrial growth in our city. Industry will not choose a
divided city nor a city where efficient government has been replaced by a system
that historically lends itself to inefficiency, incompetence and even corruption
Knowing full well that we must achieve industrial growth to provide more and better
jobs for our citizens we want to get this election behind us so that we can continue
to grow and prosper. Spokesmen for the petitioners say they have no quarrel with
the present Council. We hope this is true so that we might decide this on the
merits of the two systems.
We believe without question that the present city administration is the best
we have ever enjoyed. The great majority of the employees of this City are loyal
and dedicated with strong administrative leadership The first general capital
improvements bond issue in more than a decade was approved in June. The credit
rating of the City is the best ever as evidenced by the favorable interest rate
received in the bond sale of August 1, 1963. Improvements are being made and
planned throughout the. City. People throughout the State and even the nation are
aware of the new spirit within our City
All of these factors have been considered and discussed. We feel it would be
a tragic mistake to take a step backward from our present system to one which is
being abandoned throughout the United States and which no sizable city in Texas
satilizes. The statements we have made here can and will be proven. Let there be
no doubt that this Council is absolutely and completely opposed to the ward system
an ! its inherent evils. we call this election in order to allow the citizens of
this city the opportunity of expressing themselves on this issue. we strongly urge
those citizens interested in good city government to unite and make a real effort
to inform the voters of the fallacies of this system and to insure its defeat.
Some will be critical of our position as elected officials in taking this stand
but we feel an obligation to those who elected us to speak out on these issues
that are vital to us all. This Board of Aldermen wants it further known that a
vote in favor of the ward system is a vote against us, individually and collectively.
DR. AL T. WITCHER
OPTOMETRIST
PHONE 723-5645 613 EIGHTH STREET
WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS
I cannot imagine the thinking people of Wichita Falls
wanting to revert backwards to a system of ward politics
that was in vogue back at the turn of the century in 1900.
Not only in 'Texas but throughout the united States, most
cities have long; ago discarded the ward system because of
it ' s resultant bad politics , its shortsightendness , its
small thinking and the racketeering that accompanied it
because of a few individuals who wanted a lot of nbwer.
prime example of the ward system is the cit7 of Chi.iam
and everyone is famajiliar with the racketeering that went
on there with its ward system.
�;Iiehita Falls does not need at its head short s*,ghted and
small thinking individuals who are concern6d only with
their own little bailiwick in which they live. It needs
broad !ntnded people who are elected b�7 the entire citizen-
ship and will work for the improvement and betterment
of the entire city in total.
Vie feel that Wichita Falls is back on the right track with
an administration that has improved the efficiency of
operation 100/0, with the capital i-1provement program
that is being put into effect in all parts of the city,
and with the enthusiasm which Teas been manifested by the
people in the program, of industrial development. I cannot
imagine the thinkingr people of lIichi to Palls allowing; a
few individuals to derail it.