SANTA ANA : Latino Group Urges Election Changes

A broad-based, nonpartisan group of Latinos proposed Wednesday that the city overhaul its at-large election system and begin electing City Council members from districts.

In a letter hand-delivered to City Hall, the Orange County Hispanic Committee for Fair Elections issued its first warning that it intends to be involved in the redistricting process. Santa now has a 65% Latino population--a 111% increase since 1980.

“Given the figures of Hispanics in Orange County and your city as cited by the Census Bureau, perhaps it is now time to look at abolishing elections at-large,” the letter stated, adding that previous court cases have shown a dilution of minority voting strength in at-large election systems.

Santa Ana is the first Orange County city targeted by the group, which earlier this year failed to persuade the Orange County Board of Supervisors to follow their recommendations in changing supervisorial boundaries. Lawyers for the group have filed with the U.S. Department of Justice a formal complaint against the county redistricting plan.

Under the current election process in Santa Ana, each council member resides in one of six wards but they are elected by the voters citywide. The mayor runs separately and also is chosen by voters throughout the city.

Council members previously have been reluctant to adopt elections by council districts because of the size of the city and because Latinos have been able to win election citywide. The single-member districting proposal has also been rejected in recent years by voters and by a City Charter Review committee.

Although traditionally opposed to abolishing at-large elections, Councilman John Acosta said he “could easily be convinced, at this point, to go the other way. However, at this particular point, I don’t see an advantage.”

But voting rights activists argue that district election campaigns are more affordable and produce more responsive representatives.

“You will be able to get more people that are civically responsive,” committee co-chairman Arturo Montez said, “whether they be a plumber, a bricklayer or a corporate executive.”

And while Latinos can win at-large elections, Montez said, it is “morally right” for the city to convert to a district system that encourages minorities to participate in elections.

The committee also has asked city officials for the opportunity to participate in the redrawing of political district boundaries.

City staff is nearing completion of a plan that adjusts ward lines based on population shifts but excludes changes in the election system. That issue, City Manager David N. Ream said, is a policy decision to be made by the council.

Francisco Gutierrez, the manager’s executive assistant, said the new map may be taken to the council in January for its initial review.

Most of the plans drafted so far, Gutierrez said, show that for the first time under the city’s ward system, all of the council districts have a majority Latino population.