Moorpark voter probe nearly done
Does system hurt Latinos?
Angie Valencia-Martinez, Staff Writer

MOORPARK - The U.S. Department of Justice is completing an investigation into Moorpark's voting records and the potential for discrimination in the city's election process, officials said.
City leaders recently met with Justice Department officials to discuss whether Moorpark's at-large election system violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the strength of Latino voters.

If the process is found to favor whites over Latinos - concentrated in the downtown area, where some of the the city's least-expensive housing sits - the city likely will be asked to switch to single-representative districts.

"I don't know where this is going," Councilman Clint Harper said. "My guess is probably the report will find there's a violation and recommend ... to go into districts. I don't know if the city will fight back."

The Justice Department opened the investigation 10 months ago after a complaint from someone Justice officials won't identify. Investigators asked the city staff to provide them with voting records dating back to the city's incorporation in 1983, with breakdowns by precinct and Spanish surnames. City officials said they expect the report to be finished in two months.

The investigation by the department's Civil Rights Division has already concluded that Moorpark could be carved into four voting districts of about 9,000 residents each, "with one district containing a majority of eligible Hispanic voters," Harper said.

Now, the Justice Department is analyzing voting records to determine whether candidates supported by downtown voters were elected. A spokesman with the Department of Justice said the investigation is still active and ongoing, but gave no further comment.

Moorpark council members are elected citywide to serve staggered, four-year terms, and the mayor is elected every two years.

A district system would allow voters from specific geographic areas to elect one of their own to the council. While Latinos make up roughly 28 percent of Moorpark's population, the five-member council has none, although it has in the past.

The terms for Harper and Councilwoman Janice Parvin are up in November.

Harper said he has yet to decide whether he will seek re-election.

"I've always enjoyed representing all of the city, not just one part of the city," he said.

Mayor Patrick Hunter was among those who met with Justice Department officials earlier this month to discuss how the city conducts municipal elections. He said Moorpark's method is no different than other cities in the county.

"The city has not considered what may come or result from the Department of Justice investigation," he said. "I'd like to wait and see what information their inquiry yields and determine what course of action would be in the best interest of the residents of Moorpark."

In 2000, the federal agency filed suit against the city of Santa Paula, alleging that its at-large electoral system denied Latinos an equal opportunity in the political process. The suit was dropped after the city agreed to let voters sort out the elections process. Voters rejected the district system and chose to stick with citywide representation.

Should Moorpark be found in violation of the Voting Rights Act, the City Council could voluntarily agree to divide the city into four districts, or the Justice Department could file a complaint in federal court.

David Rodriguez, national vice president for the League of United Latin American Citizens' Far West region, said Moorpark has been on their radar screen for some time. He said it appears that the Latino community is unable to elect its candidate of choice.

"We've had some concern about the lack of representation," he said. "We're hoping that they'll draw single-member districts. We don't see an option there."

Without specific districts, he said, "The downtown community won't have any voice."