An Oklahoma City council member said Tuesday he would like to add two more members to the council before city elections next year.
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Ward 4 Councilman Pete White asked the city staff last month to survey how similar cities organize their councils. The results of that survey were presented Tuesday.
White said he sees several reasons to consider creating more city wards.
"With a city as large as we are, it just makes it inordinately difficult," White said. "My ward would be the 17th largest city in the United States if it were a city by itself."
White advocates adding one council ward in south Oklahoma City and another in the northern part of the city.
He said he isn't looking to gerrymander any council members out of their wards. Rather, he'd like to take small portions of several wards to create the new council spots.
Decreasing the size of the wards also would make it easier for council members to be responsive to their constituents. White said it also would provide more opportunity for minority representation.
"I think the council doesn't look like the city," White said. "We have a pretty diverse population in Oklahoma City and one black person on the council."
Mayor Mick Cornett said he is reluctant to add more wards without hearing more concrete reasons.
"In general, I don't like to create more government," Cornett said.
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