City Of Petaluma: Council To Discuss District-Based Elections

Press release from the City of Petaluma:

2021-09-24

On August 23, 2021, the City of Petaluma received a certified letter from Attorney Kevin Shenkman of Shenkman & Hughes alleging that the City’s at-large election system has led to a dilution of Latino votes in violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The letter specifies a deadline of October 8, 2021 for informing Mr. Shenkman whether the City would like to discuss a voluntarily change from Petaluma’s current at-large election system. It is estimated that at least 170 school districts, 32 community college districts, 10 special districts, and over 100 cities have transitioned or are in the process of transitioning from at-large elections to district-based elections as a result of receiving a similar demand letter. Mr. Shenkman, who practices in Malibu, California, has sent many such demand letters. Sonoma County cities that have transitioned to district elections include Santa Rosa, Windsor, and Rohnert Park.

The City has not previously received complaints from Petaluma voters that the City’s elections dilute the votes of protected class citizens, or that they are in violation of the CVRA. The facts asserted in Mr. Shenkman’s demand letter alleging that the City’s at-large voting system violates the CVRA are inaccurate. Mr. Shenkman alleges that “[i]t appears that in the past 20 years, the City’s elections have been almost completely devoid of Latino candidates…” In fact, in the past 20 years, Tiffany Renee, a Latinx woman, served on the Council from 2009-2012, and Gabe Kearney, a Latinx man, was appointed to a vacancy during the 2009-2012 term and then was elected and served two subsequent terms from 2013 to 2020.

The City Council is currently assessing whether or not transitioning to district-based elections is in the best interests of the City’s protected class voters. Traditionally, Petaluma protected-class voters have been distributed throughout the City with no substantial concentration of protected class voters residing in a particular area or areas of the City. Therefore, it is possible that a transition to district-based elections may not have the intended result and actually dilute the votes of protected class voters, since currently protected class voters participate in electing each and every seat on the City Council. Following the transition to district voting, voters can only directly impact the selection of the council seat in their own district and any remaining at-large seats.

The City Council is tentatively scheduled to vote on October 4, 2021 whether or not to adopt a resolution declaring its intention to consider transitioning to district-based elections. Petaluma City Council meeting agendas may be viewed here: https://cityofpetaluma.org/meetings/. All are welcome to attend and provide their comments.

This press release was produced by the City of Petaluma. The views expressed here are the author’s own.