League of Women Voters forum will detail Measure T
The Merced County League of Women Voters plans a forum on Thursday to educate interested voters on Measure T, the ballot measure that would split the city into districts for City Council seats.
The league offers the 90-minute lesson at no cost and plans to take questions from the audience.
The forum is planned for 7 p.m. at City Hall, 678 W. 18th St. It also will be streamed live from the city’s website, www.cityofmerced.org.
Panelists include Jessica Trounstine, a political science professor at UC Merced, and David Soldani, an attorney at Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo. Interim Merced City Attorney Cristina Talley will be the moderator.
On the Nov. 4 ballot, voters will be asked if they want to change City Council elections from an at-large voting system, which elects council members by a citywide vote, to a district-based voting system. Under district elections, only voters living in the district would pick from candidates running for office from within that district.
The mayoral seat would continue to be picked by an at-large vote.
Measure T would also require the city to prepare a map of the districts. A panel of residents, with the help of a mapping specialist, would prepare the plan.
The council voted to put the measure on the ballot after the Mexican American Legal Defense Educational Fund, a civil rights group, threatened to sue the city, saying the at-large system violates the California Voting Rights Act. The settlement agreement with the civil rights group included changing the city’s charter to allow districts in local elections.
During the forum experts will explain Measure T, what the city settlement agreement includes and the wording of the amendment.
Experts also plan to review the California Voting Rights Act, its purpose and the limitations on the districts allowed under the act. Another topic of discussion is the review of case law regarding district representation.
Six of the seven members of council have agreed that six districts would be best, while Councilman Michael Belluomini has argued for three. The experts will discuss the merits of those choices and whether they could withstand legal challenge.
Additional expert discussion will include research on the differences between at-large and district elections and the types of candidates who win.
For more on the forum, visit the league’s website, www.lwvmercedco.org.
This story was originally published October 21, 2014 at 8:24 PM with the headline "League of Women Voters forum will detail Measure T."