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| Tom Chavez at Los Cerritos Community News this afternoon. |
By Randy Economy
Reporter
Los Cerritos Community News
www.loscerritosnews.net
Norwalk, CA
3:58 p.m.
Proponents of a plan to carve up Cerritos College into seven different voting districts have filed a lawsuit against the Cerritos Community College District.Z
The action, filed on behalf of former Cerritos College Trustee Carmen Avalos, former candidate Tom Chavez, and Downey resident Leonard Zuniga claim that the long held tradition of “at-large elections dilute the voting strength of Latino voters.”
Attorney Mike Baller, who represents the three plaintiffs, claim that the 55-year system of electing Cerritos College Trustees at large from the electorate creates “racially polarizing voting.”
The Cerritos Community College District currently oversees 11 communities in the greater Southeast Los Angeles County region stretching from La Mirada on the east, to parts of South Gate on the East, and to Downey and nearly 2/3rd of the voters in Norwalk.
In a statement to the media, the three plaintiffs claim that Cerritos College Board of Trustees is “controlled” by a “small minority of the District’s residents who live or are active in the City of Cerritos, although 12 cities are located entirely or partially within the District’s boundaries.”
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| Leonard Zuniga, Cerritos College lawsuit proponent. Randy Economy Pics |
Avalos and Chavez lost the 2009 election to incumbents Robert Hughlett, a past two-time Mayor of Cerritos, and the late Robert Epple, from Bellflower who was a former long time trustee and elected member of the California State Assembly. Epple passed away in 2010 and his seat is now being held by appointed incumbent Jean McHatton, who is also a resident of Cerritos and a well known area educator with more than 30 years experience in the field of education and who has a long track record of involvement at Cerritos College.
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| Will Cerritos College get carved up into seven news trustee districts? Randy Economy LCCN Photo |
The lawsuit claims that “as a result of racially polarized voting, Latino voters, especially those in areas outside the City of Cerritos, are unable to elect candidates of their choice and candidates responsive to their interests in the District’s programs.”
"This legal action is premature and does not recognize the Board's work on the election issue, and defending the district in this lawsuit will be very costly to taxpayers while the Board is already taking a course of action. The lawsuit is totally unnecessary," said Dr. Linda Lacy, President/Superintendent of Cerritos College, "especially at a time when we need every dollar we have to support the educational program at the college."
Avalos, Zuniga and Chavez said that the 24,000 students who attend Cerritos College are “substantially over 50% Latino.”
Cerritos College spokesperson Aya Abelon confirmed that the current population of the student body is at 53% Latino.
Backers of the lawsuit claim that 2010 US Census data shows that the Cerritos College District boundaries include a population of 431,048, and that half of them claim to be of “Latino” ancestry.
Attorney Baller claim that “only a few” Latinos , have been elected, “just three since 1995,” as a result, his clients contend that “racially polarized voting patterns” have occurred in past Cerritos College District board elections.
support minority candidates, and when there is a large difference in the level of support for minority candidates between minority and non-minority portions of the electorate.,” Baller said in a statement to Los Cerritos Community News.
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6 comments:
I guess this is ONE good way to get rid of THE ENTIRE CURRENT SEVEN MEMBERS of the CERRITOS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Be careful what you WISH for people....
Randy ... your article states Carmen is the former City Clerk for South Gate (a elected position) buut the City's website indicates she is the City Clerk. She held that position while she was on the college board. Two elected officies at the same time. Really! That has to be against the law if not very unethical. Tom Chaves stated in his campaign documents during his two unsuccessful campaigns that he was a teacher at Cerritos College. He lied. He never taught any classes at the college.
Let's find another way to get on since we cannot win through a fair election. White, brown, asian, or latino people vote! If the district has 50%+ latino voters and you did not get elected get over it! That means they did not vote for you or they did not vote period. The current board is doing a good job and along comes someone who wants a job based on race. People please! Gloria Molina and Tony Mendoza all over again! If you truly care about the college you would not waste precious money on this BS.
God forbid people just elect individuals based on qualifications. Now we have to consider race too? Sleeze balls!
Is this the same Leonard Zuniga that was served with a restraining order by the Downey Coordinating Council because he had no regard for their rules and he was harrassing a member of the organization (Type in Leonard Zuniga on Yahoo and see what comes up)? Causing trouble where ever you go Leonard? Your who I want representing me!
Ignore race in an election? Apparently the "Birthers" disagree.
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