Single-member options go to voters

HARLINGEN - Voters will have the opportunity to choose whether they want Harlingen to have a single-member district form of government come Nov. 4.

City commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved the final reading of an ordinance that calls for a special election that will give voters the choice of:
* Five single-member district city commissioners and an at-large mayor,
* A hybrid system of three single-member district city commissioners, two at-large city commissioners and an at-large mayor.

One of these propositions has to win by more than 50 percent of the vote to pass. If not, the current at-large system will remain.
Commissioners made the decision after about an hour and 15 minutes in closed session.