William O. Douglas

“ Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, 4 Cir., 352 F.2d 123, 128, that 'the fundamental principle of representative government in this country is one of equal representation for equal numbers of people, without regard to race, sex, economic status, or place of residence within a State.' And the court held that the provision for four city-wide members 'does not remedy or in any way affect the disproportion of representation of the 7 borough members.' 361 F.2d, at 497. ”

“ Bluntly speaking, there is a vast area of the present City of Virginia Beach which should never be referred to as a city. District representation from the old County of Princess Anne with elected members of the Board of Supervisors selected only by the voters of the particular district has now been changed to permit city-wide voting. The 'Seven-Four Plan' is not an evasive scheme to avoid the consequences of reapportionment or to perpetuate certain persons in office. ”

“ It is obvious that, if the percentage of qualified voters is in accord with the population, Lunnhaven and Bayside, if united in their efforts, could elect all 11 councilmen even though the election were at large. ”