A solid majority of Charleston County Council members continue to support the current at-large election method, which has been in place for decades, and say they will appeal a judge's ruling that throws the system out.

But after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week on minority enrollment at colleges, more council members have begun to question whether the county will prevail in court, and some even are considering a switch to nonpartisan elections.

The wavering followed the release of a single-member district plan that a judge ordered council to draw in case it loses its appeal of his decision. The plan, which attempts to increase black representation on the nine-member council, includes three majority black voting districts. It would not become law unless the county loses its appeal.

In March, U.S. District Judge Michael Duffy ruled that the at-large voting method, in place since 1969, discriminates against blacks.

Based on interviews this week, at least five council members said they support appealing Duffy's decision in hopes of preserving the at-large voting method.

"I happen to believe that the at-large system is the better form of government," said Councilman Ed Fava.

"Definitely, the county should appeal," added Councilman A.D. Jordan. "The judge is entitled to his own opinion."

But after last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that race can be used as a factor in enrollment, some council members are less optimistic about the county's chances of winning its court battle over at-large districts, said Council Chairman Tim Scott.

"This Supreme Court ruling is an indication of the nerve of race in American politics," Scott said.

Besides questioning the chances of success, two white council members said they are unhappy that the proposed single-member district plan draws them into districts in which blacks are a majority. For these two reasons, three, or even four, council members are considering nonpartisan elections.

Currently, all county voters elect all council members in countywide partisan elections. With single-member districts, favored by the U.S. Justice Depart-ment, voters in individual districts would vote for just one council member.

If a majority of the voters in a district are black, a black candidate has a better chance of getting elected, the Justice Department reasons.

Of the nine members of council, only Scott is black. Eight are Republicans, and one is a Democrat.

If it were enacted, the court-ordered single-member district plan would add an East Cooper representative to council. Council members say they represent all county residents under the at-large system, but only one must live in the East Cooper area.

The three districts that have a slight majority of blacks are in the North Charleston and Hollywood-Ravenel areas. Each of the nine districts has about 34,000 people, or 11 percent of the county population.

Arlie Porter covers Charleston County. Contact him at porter@postandcourier.com or 937-5548.