According to the 2000 census, approximately 33% of the population is categorized as male and white in the City of Charlottesville. (In the city schools, white males are 23%).

Checking City Council records going back to 1985, it turns out that from 1986 to 1990 there was one woman on the five-member council. The decade of the '90s finds two women most of the time, except for the 1996-97 council when there were three. And for the past two years, just one.

Over the past 17 years, there has always been one (male) African-American council member, but never more than one.

From 1990 through the present (and for the foreseeable future) there have been only Democrats elected to council.

Is there a glass ceiling for the number of women, blacks, Republicans or youth that can serve on the Charlottesville City Council at any one time?

Should we seek a more diverse (and representative) council? How could this be accomplished? Send your thoughts to george@loper.org where a selection will be published with full attribution.