Cunningham v. Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
751 F. Supp. 885 (1990)

- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro) (defendant) was a regional special district with statutory powers under state law to administer sewer services, operate a mass-transit system, and abate water pollution. Metro had the authority to take all actions necessary to perform its duties, including establishing rates for its services, imposing taxes, utilizing police powers, and condemning property. Metro was governed by the Metro Council, which was made up of 42 individuals. Of these 42 individuals, 24 were city and county elected officials who took a seat on the council automatically upon their election. The other 18 members of the council were appointed. A group of county voters (the voters) (plaintiffs) sued Metro, asserting that the council was an elected body and that the composition of the council violated the one-person, one-vote principle of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Dwyer, J.)
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