Minority Advocate Requests Postponement of Primary

An attorney for a group of minority residents will ask a federal court to postpone the June 3 primary elections for three county supervisors while he determines if the Board of Supervisors’ 1991 reapportionment is illegal.

Michael Aguirre, who represents black, Latino and Asian voters in a lawsuit against the county, said Friday that he will file a motion next week asking U.S. District Judge John Rhoades to put off the election while he rules on whether the county redistricting violates the federal Voting Rights Act.

The county is attempting to have the lawsuit thrown out. Deputy County Counsel Ian Fan said Friday that Aguirre had no proof of his claim when he filed the lawsuit in August and has not produced any evidence.

Aguirre contends that the board approved a plan last October that intentionally split Latino voters between two supervisorial districts, diluting minority voting clout. The lawsuit seeks creation of a super-minority district in which blacks, Asians and Latinos would compose more than 75% of the population.

Aguirre said Friday that, in legal depositions, Supervisor Leon Williams “is admitting that he split the Hispanic core . . . to preserve his particular incumbency.” Williams is the board’s lone black representative.

Under the approved reapportionment plan, Williams’ 4th District and Supervisor Brian Bilbray’s 1st District are the only two districts where whites constitute less than 50% of the residents.