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FERGUSON, Missouri — The Ferguson City Council is heading for a historic election this spring. Less than a year since the nation focused on racial tensions in this small St. Louis suburb, residents will head to the ballot box with their first real chance to change local government.
After African-American teen Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer on Aug. 9 last year, national news outlets pointed to the lopsided racial makeupnot only of the Ferguson police force but of the city government. While nearly 70 percent of Ferguson residents are black, five of the six members of the city council, as well as the mayor, are white.
But three of those white council members decided not to run for re-election in April. Eight candidates, four of whom are black, are now competing for the open seats. That’s an extraordinary number in a town that has seen only two black council members ever, according to Fusion. And since both candidates for one open seat are black, the city council is set to at least double its African-American representation.
Of course, reformers come from all racial groups — as do defenders of the status quo — but giving the majority of Ferguson’s residents a bigger voice in government seems like a positive step.
The Ferguson City Council consists of six members chosen in nonpartisan elections. Their terms are overlapping and run for three years.
