Journal Assumes Current Holder’s Ownership of Elected Legislation Position

In the city of Albuquerque, the city council is made up of citizen legislators duly elected by their peers for part time fixed terms. Those glancing today’s Albuquerque Journal may find themselves misinformed if they did not already understand this fact. The top of the fold headline in this morning’s Journal reads:

“Council OKs Map, Cutting Benton’s Seat”

What an atrocious wording. As the population density of Albuquerque has shifted towards the west side of the city it became necessary for the city council to consider re-districting without increasing the number of councilors. The council seat appropriated to the west side under the most current redistricting plan is not the property of Mr. Benson; it is an elected position of limited governance granted by the citizens of our city. Mr. Benson may move to the area of the city where the council seat he currently holds has been moved and run for that seat. He may run for the seat now representing his current home. Difficult decisions based on population density had to be considered in order to complete redistricting; it was not done by coin flip. It is sheer ignorance for the Journal to imply ownership of a city council position by a so-called elected citizen legislator.