Facts

Jim Soliz and Rosemarie Sanchez-Fraser sued the Santa Clarita Community College District, in connection with the District's at-large voting process.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiffs alleged that the District's "at large" voting process discriminated against the Latino population, in violation of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
The District moved for summary judgment, arguing that plaintiffs failed to establish that the at-large elections resulted in racially polarized voting.

Result

The court denied the District's motion for summary judgment. The parties later reached a settlement whereby the parties will enter into a stipulated judgment in which the District will implement a cumulative voting system, allowing voters to cast multiple votes for one candidate, instead of the numbered seat system currently in place. The District will also pay $850,000 in attorney fees and costs. The agreement includes that if any candidate for the Santa Clarity Community College District Board pays to have a statement placed in the ballot pamphlet, the District will pay the cost of having that statement translated in Spanish. In addition the District will host informative sessions for persons interested in becoming candidates for the Board, will also conduct voter registration drives and implement programs to facilitate vote by mail voting, and the District will reasonably make its facilities available for use as polling places. The District will seek agreement from the County of Los Angeles and a waiver from the State Board of Education to conduct its elections in November of even-numbered years.

Other Information

FILING DATE: June 20, 2013.