In 2022, Cypress opted to fight the switch to district-based elections. That decision has now cost the Orange County city at least $835,000 — and likely more.
Cypress has settled a lawsuit filed by attorney Kevin Shenkman on behalf of the Southwest Voter Registration Project. The suit was filed after the city rebuffed his 2022 letter demanding that the council drop its at-large voting system.
Shenkman has long argued that at-large city council elections disenfranchise minorities and lead to less diverse representation, in violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). Since Shenkman’s crusade began, over 100 cities have dropped at-large voting.
Councilmember Frances Marquez was the only one on the Cypress City Council to initially vote in favor of district elections.
“I supported a transition to district elections because, even though the council majority did not see it this way, we had to give Asian voters, and all voters, adequate representation before the council,” she told Voice of OC. “Regardless of our politics, we should all agree that we do better when we strengthen democracy.”
In January, the city gave up the fight, agreed to settle, and voted 4-1 to make the switch. Last month, the city unanimously approved the $835,000 payout, which will cover costs and attorneys fees.
According to Marquez, the city spent more than $1 million trying to fight the inevitable.
“We should all be able to put our political ideologies aside and come together to make important decisions about our city, where no constituent is left out,” Marquez said. “I deeply regret the majority’s failed stewardship of our taxpayer dollars but welcome the opportunity to make sure that democracy works for all.”