You do know it's a lost cause. People who think they can fight demographics are only fooling themselves. I promise you that even if this does pass, in less than twenty years, their will be a reunion because the Haredim will also be a much larger segment of Beit Shemesh.
Don't get me wrong, it's a legit news item.

I too think it is a lost cause and a waste fo their energy, but they think they have no other choice and have been backed into a corner. I find it an interesting story to follow, even knowing it will almost definitely go nowhere...

Even though it probably will not (and should not) happen, I think that this movement to split the city should at least show the elected mayor that there are a lot of residents that have much concern that he is not representing them fairly. Even though 51% of the votes makes you mayor, it does not mean that you should make the 49% feel that you are trampling their valid needs and feelings.

People of BS, learn from Bnei Brak and Elad. Bnei Brak was 'the' dati-leumi city and now only the older generation might still be around, and their synagogues 'overrun'. Elad was supposed to be half-half, but the Haredi demographics were much stronger than the dati-leumi. An interesting thing about the heavy influx of Haredim is that it does not hurt property values which will keep rising, just a switch of the types of people who are pushing the demand for housing.

As far as the position of mayor goes, IMHO the best thing for the non-charedim in Bet Shemesh to do the next time around is to NOT field a candidate, and then, assuming there are two charedi candidates (which I think would be likely) to strike a deal with one of them.