Attorney Kevin Shenkman has gotten numerous cities to switch to district-based elections over the past 10 years. Now, he’s going after Orange County’s largest holdout.
Shenkman filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of Surf City resident Victor Valladeres. The suit alleges that the current at-large voting system disenfranchises minority voters, leading to inadequate representation for Latinos and other non-white groups.
Huntington Beach is already embroiled in a series of other legal challenges. Nevertheless, City Attorney Michael Gates is vowing to fight.
“It’s in the City’s Charter and no threats, intimidation, or legal action will change that,” Gates wrote in an email to Voice of OC. “I will not allow a Shenkman lawsuit to take away our residents’ right and authority to vote for all Council Members.”.
If history is any guide, the case is almost certain to be decided in favor of the plaintiff. Even Cypress — another OC city that initially resisted legal pressure — eventually settled with Shenkman. Cypress voters will be electing their council member by district this November.