Mayor Was Concerned With 'Invasion of Hispanics,' Councilman Testifies

PASADENA, TX — Testimony will resume this week in a federal voting rights lawsuit that has pitted the City of Pasadena against the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

MALDEF filed the lawsuit alleging changes made to the structure of the city council three years ago are discriminatory against Hispanics

In 2013, Pasadena voters approved a measure that changed the city council structure from eight single-member districts to a system with two at-large seats and six single-member positions, which was initiated by long time Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell.

On Nov. 18, Pasadena City Councilman Ornaldo Ybarra testified to hearing second-hand accounts that Isbell was concerned "an invasion" of Hispanics would take over the council if voters didn’t approve the the district system.

Defense attorney Kelly Sandhill from the Houston law firm Andrews Kurth, who is representing the city in this case, questioned Ybarra about the intent of Isbell’s alleged remarks.

Ybarra said he could not know the intent but felt remarks of this nature were
discriminatory and racially motivated.

"Growing up in Pasadena, I never saw racism as a kid. In high school and afterward when I came back to Pasadena after serving in the Marines, I never saw racism until I came to be a member of the City Council," Ybarra said.

Ybarra also testified that he’d met privately with Isbell and the mayor had offered to fund his re-election campaign if he agreed to run against former Councilman Don Harrison, whom Isbell considered a political enemy.

Ybarra said he turned Isbell’s offer down.

Meanwhile, Isbell, who also testified, was questioned about his May 2013 campaign finance report, which indicated that he’d donated $23,000 to a political action committee called "Citizens for a Strong Pasadena."

Isbell testified that his was the lone donation to the PAC, which he and his son J.J. Isbell used to pay for campaign mailers telling voters "You can't trust politician Don Harrison" and "Don Harrison will NOT stand up for those who protect us."

Isbell also testified about the redistricting process in 2013, during which he said he instructed council members to nominate two residents from their district to serve on a committee that would help offer input on the process.

However, Isbell said he rejected Harrison’s selections as unacceptable and chose them himself.

"I know they would be against anything I would propose," he said. "So, I appointed a good Christian preacher..."

Testimony resumes this week.

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