George,

Re the ward system: as a former Chicago resident, I'm skeptical about the ward system. C'ville is too small for wards, in my opinion. Such divisions encourage parochialism, whereas at-large councilors represent the WHOLE city. And, true to my party loyalties, I look on any issues advocated by Republican Rob Shilling with great skepticism. He recently lived in California and probably knows more about their politics than Virginia's.

Kay Peaslee (electronic mail, September 14, 2004)