OPINION by STEWART JENKINS On Aug. 24, California Supreme Court Associate Justice Kelli Evans issued the unanimous decision of the Court in Pico Neighborhood Association vs. City of Santa Monica wh…
On Aug. 24, California Supreme Court Associate Justice Kelli Evans issued the unanimous decision of the Court in Pico Neighborhood Association vs. City of Santa Monica which is a landmark ruling that may spell the end of at-large elections in cities, like San Luis Obispo.
As important as is assuring that minority voters have representation to shape city policy, representative districts for each council seat provide benefits to all, well beyond that important aspect of democracy. I appeared and urged council members to place an amendment to the city charter to create four single member districts regardless of whether the California Voting Rights Act would compel them to do so.
With five candidates, each winner needs to receive no more than 21% of the total vote to walk into office; with eight candidates, only 13% of the vote can win. This leaves the actual majority with no voice or influence on city policies, public parks, ordinances, development, fire fighters, ambulance crews, police protection, public transit, roads, bike lanes and spending.
The Supreme Court took the Pico Neighborhood Association’s appeal, and all the dominant interest group knives came out.
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