It was published Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by The Dallas Morning News.

Gerald Britt: 14-1 system has changed Dallas’ political landscape

Twenty years ago Roy Williams and Marvin Crenshaw filed a lawsuit that has resulted in the present Dallas City Council configuration known as 14-1.

This fight didn’t follow a linear path. In fact, it took three years of struggle. Dallas officials wanted to keep some semblance of governance by representatives elected at large. Formerly the configuration was 8-3, eight elected from single-member districts, with two members and the mayor elected at large. This design diluted the voting strength of Dallas minorities, leaving them little opportunity to elect candidates focused on their interests.

The establishment feared a change to single-member districts would result in the election of politicians who weren’t committed to the interests of Dallas as a whole and would leave our city mired in ward politics. Many leaders favored a configuration known as 10-4-1, 10 single-member districts, four regional districts and an at-large mayor.

The city council continuously appealed a federal judge’s order for a referendum on the issue. The local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference protested those appeals, calling for a boycott of Dallas by all conventions scheduled to meet here.

Just as Mr. Williams and Mr. Crenshaw may never get the credit they deserve for changing Dallas politics, Peter Johnson will probably never be fully appreciated for his contributions to this historic change. Mr. Johnson, along with the late Rev. Marshall Hodge and L. Charles Stovall, mentored a few young preachers — Robert Hadley, Henry Wilkins IV and me — to help in the fight to assure equal representation for all Dallas citizens.

Eventually, the NAACP gave its support, and Hispanic leaders also became a vital part of a dynamic coalition. Michael Gonzales, Adelfa Callejo and LULAC were invaluable allies and formed a coalition that withstood a great deal of criticism.

That’s right: African-Americans and Hispanics worked together to bring this historic change to Dallas. In June of 1991, the U.S. Justice Department ruled that the 10-4-1 design didn’t provide adequate representation for minorities in Dallas, resulting in the form of council we have today.

Some still question whether 14-1 is the best choice. My answer: Inclusion is always good. Dallas politics can be chaotic and messy, but that is the nature of inclusive politics. The influence of 14-1 is felt throughout the city’s political landscape. The diversity of city boards and commissions, the school board, and city and county staffs are the legacy of 14-1.

Political systems and the politicians who operate in them — along with the electorate — take time to mature. We still await the transformation of our most underdeveloped and neglected neighborhoods in the southern part of Dallas, where 14-1 was expected to make the most difference. We’ve seen that some minority politicians are as flawed as any of their white predecessors, but we’ve also seen that there are many who are equally, if not more, talented and committed.

Twenty years ago, many questioned the ability of minority council members to represent the interests of the city as well as their communities. In 2008, we’re debating whether we can entrust the leadership of our country to an African-American. One hundred and forty-five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, America may be recognizing that minorities can be considered citizens in every sense of the word.

Still, Dallas and our country have come a long way in 20 years. The dynamics of our history are important as we consider how far we still have to go.

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The Rev. Gerald Britt Jr. is vice president for public policy at Central Dallas Ministries and has worked on civic affairs and social justice issues as a community leader in Dallas for more than 25 years. Rev. Gerald Britt joined Central Dallas Ministries (CDM) in September 2004 to further his lifelong work serving those around him. His pastoral and community experience and wisdom are rich assets to CDM. Gerald oversees the following programs: CDMWorkPaths, Charlie Mae Ransom Technology Learning Center, Children's Education, Roseland Homes, and Urban Connection - San Antonio. A high profile community leader for many years, Gerald has strong ties to the political, faith and business communities of Dallas. Gerald most recently served as Senior Pastor for the New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, located in the heart of far South Dallas. During his 22 years there, he led the church in significant growth and organizational change. Through his work in the church and surrounding neighborhoods as well as years of leadership in Dallas Area Interfaith, Gerald has distinguished himself as one of Dallas’ most influential community leaders. He has been out front on many city issues, from advocating for better care for Parkland Hospital patients to increasing voter turnout in South Dallas, among others.