Dana Point Residents Balk At By-District Elections

DANA POINT, CA — Residents crowded this week's Dana Point City Council Meeting to question the necessity for voting districts in the small beachside town. On Feb. 20, the council agreed to make a move toward districting through the "Safe Harbor" provision.

This followed earlier meetings where RDM Legal Group threatened to Sue Dana Point for violating the California Voting Rights Act, and whether minorities are properly represented. This was the third public haring for the potential transition to the by-district elections.

Districting in Dana Point would alleviate potential litigation, the council has posited. Residents were vocal about their opposition to the idea, and the council's speed at adopting the new procedures.

"I'd like to see neighborhoods being kept together," Dana Point's Mayor Richard Viczorek said. "I don't like seeing districts that go down the middle of a street and put one neighbor in one district and one in another."

Changes to an At Large Mayor system were discussed by Capistrano Beach resident Carol Wilson.

Alan Bell, a Capistrano Beach resident spoke out, as did many of his neighbors throughout the night.

"I hope Mr. Tomlinson is as offended by the 5 district map as we, his Capo Beach neighbors are," he said. The overarching concern was for neighbors to stay in the same district as neighbors.

Barbara Wilson, another Dana Point resident spoke of her concerns.

"The rush to District Voting has been a shock, creating nothing but frustration and distress. Why did our attorney rush to capitulate to the threat of a lawsuit? Why not find out who the plaintiff is? Why take a vote during spring break, when so many are out of town? Why split up Capo Beach, a unified neighborhood, that has its own zip code?"

Questions circled, she said."Districting will forever change our voting rights."

"I don't think we have all the facts," Capo Beach resident, Judy Reisling said. "I've been looking at this and I'm really confused. We need to slow it down."

The next meeting in May, the Dana Point council could read the ordinance, with their follow up ordinance reading in the middle of next month. If it passes, the districting voting system could become effective in June of this year.

Photo, courtesy City of Dana Point