Unleashing democracy: home rule pilot program starting

by: Clem Guttata

Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 11:53:17 AM EST

Beth Gorczyca Ryan reports in the State Journal that Four West Virginia cities apply to take part in home rule pilot.

A handful of cities in West Virginia are one step closer to getting what they've always wanted -- home rule and the ability to govern themselves.

On Jan. 1, four cities -- Bridgeport, Charleston, Huntington and Wheeling -- submitted application packets to the state's Home Rule Board, which will review each city's plans during the next several months before announcing later this year which cities can proceed forward with home rule on July 1.

All four may be picked to take part in the pilot program. Or some may be denied. Legislation passed in 2007, however, requires at least one community be selected.

"I think for some cities, they see this as a real opportunity to prove to themselves and others that they know best how to run their cities," said Lisa Dooley, executive director of the West Virginia Municipal League. "For a long time, their hands have been tied. Now the ropes have been loosened."

Who is against home rule? Many big businesses are, for one. They like having a single legislature and centralized government they can lobby to do their bidding.

Although the devil is in the details, as a general philisophy I'm all for "home rule." Decisions should be made by people who are as close to the problems being solved as possible. That's the view shared by advocates of home rule.

[Wheeling Mayor Nick Sparachane]  also said home rule brings government closer to the people: It allows local leaders to set the tone, rather than having lawmakers in other parts of the state deciding how things should be done.

"People are scared to death of taxes, I understand that," he said. "But home rule is a chance for people to be closer to their elected officials -- there are seven representatives at our council table, and what a great opportunity for people who want to voice dissent to come and talk to them, face-to-face. You don't get that opportunity at the state level, and certainly not at the federal level. At the end of the day, those seven people will ... make the decisions that most affect them, and they will have the ability to talk to them."

Dooley said she understands some people's fears about home rule, but she points to the four cities' applications as proof that home rule isn't just some code phrase for new taxes. None of the cities are taking that approach. The cities' approach, if anything, is to make the cities better for business, not worse, Dooley said.

"What we've been doing isn't working, or, at least, it isn't working very well," she said. "Give it a chance and see what happens."

She said the people who lead cities tend to know the needs and challenges of their neighbors, co-workers, friends and constituents better than folks sitting under the gold dome in Charleston.

"If you work on the assembly line making cars all day, you know which type of wing nut works better in certain areas than maybe the president of the company," she said. "It's the same thing here. I feel certain cities know best how to deal with city problems."