Plan will impact scores of California cities and school districts
CAMARILLO —The California League of United Latin American Citizens will partner with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and private attorneys in a significant expansion of cases brought forth under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) next year, California LULAC State President Dave Rodriguez stated in a media release.
Thirty-one cities and thirteen school districts from Redwood City in the north, to Cathedral City in the south have been reviewed and placed on a list for action by a special LULAC task force and the organization’s legal partners.
“As we see voting rights challenged in many states, California hopes to utilize current state law to bolster Latino representation” Rodriguez said.
LULAC’s task force leader, Arturo Montez, says the changes will result in the election of dozens of new elected officials as Latino communities change from an at large system to district voting. “this strengthens communities by enhancing neighborhood representation,” Montez said.
The law, enacted in 2001, prohibits the use of an at-large election system in a political subdivision if it impairs the ability of a protected class to elect candidates of its choice or otherwise influence the outcome of an election.
CVRA also states that a voter who is a member of a protected class may bring an action in superior court to enforce the provisions of the CVRA, and, if the voter prevails in the case, he or she may be awarded reasonable litigation costs and attorney’s fees.
CVRA requires a court to implement remedies, including the imposition of district-based elections, that are tailored to remedy a violation of the act.
“We negotiate first then litigate if we must” Rodriguez said of LULAC’s approach to cases.
California LULAC’s action follows a long standing frustration with at-large voting in cities with large Latino populations which lack representation on city councils, school boards, and other political subdivision boards. In many cities, elected leaders live in one section of the city resulting in a lack of representation for neighborhoods and disenfranchisement of Latino residents.
Not All Cities Comply
CVRA is written in a manner that provides those who sue with almost certain favorable outcomes. However, some communities are steadfast in their opposition to change. The city of Palmdale is one such case. City officials spent an estimated $7 million in taxpayer funds only to lose the case on appeal. The LULAC Council in Palmdale was instrumental in the success of this case and is now seeking candidates to run for the newly created district seats.
In northern California, King City has grudgingly discussed converting to districts but only with pressure from a community mobilization led by LULAC members, Assemblyman Luis Alejo, Ana Vargas, and California LULAC State Deputy Director Carlos Ramos.
About LULAC: The Mission of the League of United Latin American Citizens is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States. Visit www.californialulac.com for more information.