CAMPUS/AREA INIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, April 11, 1995
3A
Brian James / KANSAN
Source: Douglas County clerk's office
Issue divides voters
Candidates offer different opinions
By Sarah Morrison Kansan staff writer
Last November, the Simply Equal coalition proposed to the Lawrence City Commission that the words "sexual orientation" should be added to the human relations ordinance.
Last Tuesday night, the fate of the proposal was decided when voters elected two supporters of the proposal, Allen Levine and John Nalbandian, to the city commission, bringing the number of supporters of the proposal on the commission to a majority of three.
"I would like to see it passed as soon as possible," Levine said. "Voters knew they were electing a majority of support for this when they elected John and I."
Russell Getter, associate professor of political science, said yes and no.
But did voters vote based on their beliefs about Simply Equal?
The Simply Equal proposal clearly was the deciding factor in some precincts, he said.
In the precincts surrounding the University of Kansas, Nalbandian and Levine finished in first and second place often, and they did so with a high percentage of the vote.
The second precinct in the second ward, which encompasses an area from Ninth Street to Jayhaw Boulevard, is an example of this.
In this precinct, Levine and Nalbandian pulled in a total of 69.88 percent of the vote. Bonnie Augustine, who was against the proposal, came in a distant third with 10.75 percent of the vote.
The numbers indicate that Simply
Equal was an important issue for voters in this precinct, who voted only for the two candidates who supported it and did not use their third vote. The method is known as bullet voting.
Getter said this method was used by supporters of Simply Equal to help their candidates get elected
without giving opponents of the proposal any support with their third vote. Voters who were opposed to the proposal did not participate in bullet voting because they had four candidates to choose from. he said.
"Opposition to the proposal spread its votes out among four candidates and consequently
Levine disagreed with the idea that the election served as a Simply Equal referendum and said that while his support of the Simply Equal proposal played a part in his election to the commission, he also received additional support from residents on the west side of town who are concerned about more green space and recreation areas.
But given that two supporters of the proposal won, was the election an indication of community support for the proposal?
been a referendum for the Simply Equal proposal.
The results of the election say yes, but a breakdown of the numbers say no.
did not engage in bullet voting," Getter said. "They spread their votes too thin."
After the election Tuesday night, Nabandian said the election had
Of the 27,263 votes cast in the city commission election, 15,983 were
Commissioner Bob Moody has said that the issue of adding the words "sexual orientation" to the human relations ordinance should be decided by popular vote.
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cast for Bonnie Augustine, Jo Barnes, Carl Burkhead and Doug Compton, all who oppose the ordinance. 11,280 of the votes cast were for Nalbandian and Levine, who support it.
Ben Zimmerman, co-chairman of Simply Equal, said it did not surprise him that the majority of
"We are dealing with an unpopular minority, that is why we need civil rights protection," Zimmerman said, referring to homosexuals, who would most likely benefit most from the ordinance change. "If civil rights went to popular vote, we would still have slavery."
votes cast were for candidates opposed to the proposal.
KOREAN NIGHT '95 Korean Film Festival
Tuesday April 11, 1995 7pm
Tuesday April 11,1995 7pm Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union 4th Fl "Our Twisted Hero"
-presented at Montreal Film Festival Directed by Park Chong Won
Wednesday April 12,1995 7pm Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union 4th Fl "To The Starry Island"
-presented at New York Film Festival
Thursday April 13.1995 7pm
Thursday April 13,1995 7pm Woodruf Auditorium, Kansas Union 5th Fl "The White Badge"
-Winner of the Grand Prix at Tokyo Film Festival
The University of Kansas Korean Student Association
STUDENT
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A Service of your Kansas & Burge Unions
GRADUATION CAPS, GOWNS & HOODS FROM KU CONCESSIONS
For 1995 graduates of KU, graduation regalia may be obtained Monday through Friday. April 10 through 21 from 10 AM to 3 PM, at Gates 22 & 23 at the North End of Memorial Stadium.
- COMMENCEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
SO YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS
- SCHEDULE OF EVENTS SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
- REGALIA APPROVED BY KU SO YOU KNOW EVERYTHING WILL MATCH