Local government elected officials are ideologically closer to White residents in their communities than Black or Latino residents, especially where group differences are high. Policy is also more responsive to White opinion

From: Hometown Inequality:
https://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Inequality-Representation-American-Politics/dp/1108485944
1/n

People who vote & are active in local elections are more conservative than those who do not, with a large skew among white voters.

Local elected officials are even more conservative, most closely matching the most active white voters

(based on Catalist voter file estimates)
2/n

Local elected officials are more conservative in the most conservative areas, but there is a pronounced conservative bias (especially in rural areas). Elected officials most closely match white opinion, even when whites are a minority. But minorities do gain when >40% of pop
3/n

Racial minorities & low-income voters are descriptively underrepresented on local councils, but that does not account for most of their low ideological congruence & responsiveness. They are best (coincidentally) represented in areas where they overlap with White & rich opinion

Unlike nationally, municipal policy is most responsive to the opinions of middle-income voters, though there is far less divergence based on income than race.

Electoral institutions matter surprisingly little for racial or income representation, though Spring elections hurt
5/n

Racial & wealth inequality in matching the ideology of elected officials is greatest in small towns, not large cities.

"Hometown Inequality" is the 1st to measure at such low populations.

https://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Inequality-Representation-American-Politics/dp/1108485944

Hometown Inequality is an important research milestone:
https://www.amazon.com/Hometown-Inequality-Representation-American-Politics/dp/1108485944

2 caveats:
1) Catalyst ideological measures might not be measuring orientations on local issues like land use & might underplay symbolic conservatism
2) ICMA policy measures are limited & specific