Settlement OKd in Fight Over Council-District Map

U.S. Magistrate Harry McCue Monday approved a settlement agreement on the redistricting map supported by the Chicano Federation of San Diego County and a five-member majority of the San Diego City Council.

McCue also approved having the city pay $150,000 in legal fees to attorney Michael Aguirre, who represented the Chicano Federation during the class-action Voting Rights Act suit and lengthy political battle to redraw council district boundaries and give Latino voters greater power.

The map will not be final until ratified by U.S. District John Rhoades at a Nov. 6 hearing.

The only remaining obstacle could be a lawsuit filed in state court by Councilman Bruce Henderson, who contends that the new district boundaries violate the City Charter and state law.

Brian Monaghan, attorney for Mayor Maureen O’Connor, objected to the settlement Monday, saying voters lacked sufficient information about the agreement’s terms.

Aguirre, however, said the settlement was fair and will provide long overdue voting strength to the city’s Latino voters, who “essentially have been disenfranchised for 60 years.”

“This was an extremely significant decision,” he added. “We’re glad to have it resolved. Barring unforeseen circumstances, it appears to be final and enforceable under federal rules.”

The Chicano Federation maintained that the existing council district boundaries violate the federal Voting Rights Act by diluting Latino voting strength.

The new map will increase Latino voters from 40% to a 53.8% majority in District 8, which runs from downtown to South Bay.

O’Connor and a minority of council members argued that the new boundaries in other parts of the city, especially those north of Interstate 8, were gerrymandered to punish the council majority’s political enemies.