Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

It may have taken a federal lawsuit to get it done, but it appears that Monroe's sister city, West Monroe, may have its first Black representative on the board of aldermen. The Department of Justice filed the lawsuit against the city because the agency believed that the current method of electing existing candidates to office prevented Black office-seekers from being elected to city government. The way district lines were drawn diluted the ability of Black voters to select someone who looked like them, whereas White candidates never faced those obstacles. As a result of the lawsuit, there will be two at-large aldermen seats, while three other at-large aldermen seats will be selected from three newly drawn districts. District 3 is of particular interest for potential Black candidates because the population within that district is mostly Black, meaning that there is a good possibility that West Monroe may soon have its first Black representative in city government. Those seeking office believe that Black citizens' concerns were not addressed and that answers are needed because it seemed that none of the current aldermen had answers to their concerns. With the election of a Black alderperson, Blacks can get a glimpse of what is going on in city government. Whoever is elected can also ask tough questions on a variety of issues and not be limited to a standard three-minute time limit (for citizens) to express a concern. The settlement of the lawsuit is coming at an opportune time, because elections for the next term is scheduled to be held in March 2022. Qualifying for the March elections begins January 26, 2 and ends January 28, 2022. Election day is March 26, 2022. The citizens of West Monroe are hoping that it will be a historic day.