Whose council?

Does Salisbury City Council represent the entire city? There appears to be a disconnect when a city whose population is 48 percent white has four white council members and only one who is black.

But elections are less about demographics than about who casts ballots. At the time of the last municipal election in 2013, Salisbury had 20,747 registered voters; yet only 2,783 people bothered to vote — an anemic 13.41 percent turnout.

Considering how consistently council members win re-election, they clearly represent the people who have voted in recent years.

As candidates for City Council file for office this summer, involved citizens have many questions to ponder. Among them is this: Which comes first — feeling that the council is relevant to your life or getting involved enough to elect someone who looks and thinks more like you?