PALMDALE –The City of Palmdale will file an appeal Monday morning (Nov. 3) after the Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles today granted a request by plaintiff’s attorneys R. Rex Parris and Kevin Shenkman to require a hearing on Nov. 21 to show cause regarding contempt by the Palmdale City Council in the ongoing California Voting Rights Case.
“The actions of the court today are unprecedented, contrary to the law, and effectively deny the City its right to appeal what we feel is an erroneous trial court ruling,” said Palmdale City Attorney Matthew Ditzhazy. “The City will immediately seek appellate review.”
The City of Palmdale has already appealed the December 23 Final Order by Judge Mark V. Mooney, which permanently enjoined at-large elections, prematurely terminated the terms of the existing councilmembers, and ordered a district-based election on June 3, 2014.
“Our appeal put all that on hold until the Court of Appeals can rule on it, which meant there was no Palmdale election in June and the current Council would continue until the appeal was heard,” Ditzhazy explained.
The plaintiffs’ lawsuit, which was filed in 2013, argued that minority candidates were being kept off the Palmdale City Council because of an at large voting system. In Nov. 2013, Fred Thompson, a retired community college dean who formerly served on the Palmdale Planning Commission and Palmdale School District board, became the first African-American to win a City Council seat.
“I firmly believe that the at-large system of voting in Palmdale is simply a better system,” said Thompson. “It provides better accountability to the voter. Everyone gets a voice in selecting each of the council members that represent them, not just one. An at-large system doesn’t pit one part of the city against another, but encourages us all to work together. And, if my election proves anything, it doesn’t discriminate against minorities.”
“Personally, I find the lawsuit disingenuous,” Thompson said. “Latinos make up 60 percent of Palmdale and African-Americans make up 15%. In other words, ‘minorities’ currently make up three quarters of this city. During my days as an educator, I learned to call that a majority. To claim that having an at-large system is biased against ‘minorities,’ who are the majority, seems a bit strange to me. Under the at-large system, all four seats are Latino-majority seats. I’m not sure what problem they are hoping to solve.”
Thompson was not the first minority candidate in Palmdale to win Citywide election. Antonio Soza was elected to the Council in 1978, was appointed Vice Mayor and served until 1982. Richard Loa was elected to the Palmdale City Council in 2001 and served until 2005 when he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the California Board of Prison Terms.
“It find it curiously strange that our sister city of Lancaster has virtually identical demographics as Palmdale, yet it has at large elections,” Ledford added. “If Parris thinks so highly of districted voting, one must ask why he hasn’t implemented it in his own City before involving himself in the cities of Palmdale, Santa Clarita and more recently Highland. If this isn’t a classic example of ‘do as I say, not as I do,’ I don’t know what is.”
[Information via press release from the City of Palmdale.]
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Previous related stories:
Palmdale continues to appeal voting rights court decision despite Supreme Court snub
Palmdale to continue fighting Voting Rights Act ruling
Thompson appointed to council vacancy
Lancaster compliant with Voting Rights Act, expert claims
Palmdale to residents: All elections are on!
Palmdale to appeal judge’s decision to cancel council election
Jason Zink says
??? About voting at large….would we vote for county supervisor’s, assemblyman, state senators, congressman without district? “No” because we would not get represented!
IRay says
A group of Palmdales own people got suckered in by Paris and his smooth talk and promises of power. Now it will cost millions and Paris will send the money to the rich white community of Malibu. Well done. Idiots.
nannynanny says
Amazing. The 2 cities; Palmdale and Lancaster are in such disrepair/deteriorating. It’s obvious whilst driving around both towns which areas are better cared for, and that’s blatantly true.
Why do the politicians insists on carrying on appealing, over & over? Money spent to reach the same result is dumb.
Jason Zink says
Palmdale City could of put this “?” on the ballot of an “at large” or “district” to the voters for this Tuesday’s Election right?
Do you think Thompson would not of been elected without Incumbents support?
Do Westside, Central, Southside or Eastside fell connected to eacother???? Plesae Answer?
Voter says
I already voted on this. I voted for districts. It lost. I accept that. Now I have changed my mind. Seeing that there Rex Parris wants to take over my city and my studies on districts, I now believe it would be very bad for the people of Palmdale. This whole thing is horse crap. Why don’t Parris mind his own business?
William says
The problem in Palmdale as well as Lancaster is LOW VOTER TURNOUT.
If Latinos are a majority in Palmdale and aren’t voting or putting up good candidates, who’s responsibility is that?
Has Palmdale tried to suppress voting by having their elections at a different time like Lancaster?
Xavier Flores says
The answer to your first question is: Latinos do not have a majority CVAP, citizens of voting age population in Palmdale.
To your second question, we do not believe that the results were intentional. The City did not intentionally dilute the Latino and African American vote. However, the result of our voting system has proven to be flawed. It is polarized and our vote is diluted as a result, so we must fix it.
Jason Zink says
It was on the ballot a decade ago. Palmdale is different now if you haven’t noticed. Dont blame Rex Perris forget him blame city council and mayor for not putting it on the ballot. Costing the city millions $$$$. Lancaster should also have it on the ballot too. Both city’s are each the size of Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank city’s put together. It makes common sense. What do citizens have to do have a petition drive to put it on the ballot what are these incumbents scared of???
Samtheman says
Why do we have so many folks on here repeatedly telling us not to blame Rex? It really doesn’t matter what the voting issue is in Palmdale. My issue with Rex is he DID NOT NEED TO TAKE THE SUIT! The man isn’t starving. But he sure has left a bad taste in surrounding communities mouths!
AV Truth says
Spot on, Samtheman. That guy is a one man wrecking ball here in the AV. He took the suit to do nothing more than hurt Palmdale, hurt Ledford, hurt its people, and make some EZ money. This whole thing should have been handled by our legislature in Sacramento. Too bad he chose the low road once again.
Answer Man says
Heck yeah Palmdale is different now. Hispanics make up about 60% of the city. African Americans about 13%. If your math skills are lacking, let me help you out. This puts White’s in the minority. So if anything , districts should be made to help the true minorities. Crazy, right? Damn straight it is. Just like the stupid lawsuit that Parres brought on Palmdale. This ain’t about minority rights, it’s about the political lust of someone who is irrationally jealous.
Xavier Flores says
I don’t know if your question was rhetorical and if I am wasting my time in answering you. Please know that I am taking the time now, as I have throughout the lawsuit process to shed light on a very important issue and one that deserved thoughtful and respectful discussion.
It is true that whites are now a minority but whites are still winning elections. There is nothing from which to protect you at this time. However, rest assured that if the time comes when the tables are turned and whites are unable to elect candidates of their choice, the law will be there to protect them as it is now there to protect others.
Please know that AV-LULAC, and I think I speak for AV-NAACP when I say that we would be there to protect white voting rights, as well, when and if they are being thwarted or threatened.
AV Truth says
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Dr. Martin Luther King.
Too bad these precious words are going ignored. Instead of building a community, these actions are tearing it apart. Instead of building unity, it creates discord. For a community where diversity is celebrated by the vast majority, it is being sabotaged by a small group of individuals who are being led astray by a lawyer-politician who is using them up and who will spit them out.
William says
Now, now, AV Truth. You’re being way to easy on the ‘lawyer-politician’.
Before he was elected, did you ever see so much dissension in the Antelope Valley?
Sure, there was the fairly civil ‘cactus curtain’ rivalry but nothing like the uglieness that Rx broght us all.
Did Lancaster residents complain and protest as loudly and as oftern as they do now about Rx and the problems in Lancaster?
Rx hasn’t kept his filthy hands off his neighboring cities either yet his defenders don’t want residents of Quartz Hill and Palmdale to say a word about their Rx.
Well, too bad for them. Rx is a laughingstock every where they’ve heard of him. He did a climate change lecture in Oregon and you should read the comments telling him to butt out of their business and worry about hjis own ‘arm pit of California’ and other flattering comments.
He’s been mocked on the Tonight Show for telling the homeless to “Go home”.
Does any one recall Lancaster protesting protesting in past years like they did with the birth torusim and closing the Metrolink station?
The longer Rx stays in office, the worse it will get. He won’t learn and it appears he is only emboldened whether his bright ideas succeed or fail. He, personally, doesn’t have suffer the consequences of his bad ideas. He can always fly out of town to his other ‘homes’ to get away from the mess he has run into the ground. Or to shop. Or to dine.
Xavier Flores says
Your question seems genuine so here’s my attempt at an answer. If it is true that the vote in Palmdale is polarized, then voting now under the same system on the issue of district elections would give us a polarized result. This is exactly what happened in early 2000 when the issue was first put on the ballot. Whites voted in opposition and Black and Latinos voted in favor of this measure. It lost. Why would we want to do the same thing again?
As to your question regarding Mr. Thompson, when asked during the candidate’s forum organized by AV-LULAC and the AV-NAACP, Mr. Thompson stated he favored the actions of the Sheriff’s, the Cities and the Housing Department as it related to Section 8. These actions were found to be discriminatory against Blacks and Latinos by the Department of Justice (DOJ). in addition, he received a great deal of support from Mayor Ledford who has vast support from white voters in Palmdale.
It is quite possible that Mr. Thompson won because of the white vote. We won’t know for sure until a regressive analysis of the vote is done. There are no assurances that Mr. Thompson was the preferred candidate of the African American community and it is that choice that is protected by the CVRA.
Jake Elwood says
Xavier Flores,
So, according to your logic, if you’re supported by a white voter, you can’t possibly be supported by black voters.
Congratulations! You’ve just epitomized modern day racism for me.
Xavier Flores says
This is not what I said and is something I would never say or adhere to.
Stinger says
More of Parris trying to exert his will upon those who want nothing to do with him.
Xavier Flores says
I do not negate that Parris’ involvement in the lawsuit is an issue that we must contend with. For AV-LULAC, we wish he had not involved himself in this affair because it has taken away from a real and critical issue, the dilution of minority votes in Palmdale. We ask that you take into consideration the main issue that is or should be at the crux of this debate. This issue of minority voter disenfranchisement should carry more weight in our deliberations that Parris’ involvement. The issue of his involvement should be secondary to the issue of voter dilution in our City.
Grrrrr says
The entire City of Palmdale needs a restraining order against RINO Rex Parris. He’s a menace! REX: Mind your own business, dude! Your constituents need you to focus on Lancaster’s many issues. You are an embarrassment without compare.
Xavier Flores says
There is good cause for the lawsuit. Polarized voting has been found to exist in Palmdale since its inception. Though minorities make up the majority of the population, their citizens of voting age (CVA) population is smaller than that of whites. As a result, white voters have gotten their preferred candidates elected and ballot issues won. This process has worked against minority voters by diluting their vote resulting in their inability to elect someone of their choice. The court found that district elections was a good remedy for this problem.
We won’t know who voted for Fred Thompson until a study is done. However, does anyone think it impossible that he was voted in by Jim Ledford supporters. It is not out of the question that Mr. Thompson won primarily as a result of the vote whom Mayor Ledford vigorously courted on Mr. Thompson’s behalf. If this is true, then Mr. Thompson, as in prior elections, becomes the candidate of the white majority and not necessarily a candidate voted in by or representative of the African American community.
We said it before, we should have the right to elect someone of our choice and this choice will not always be of the same race as ourselves. Conversely, because a minority was elected, it does not mean minorities voted for them.
The fact that minorities have too seldom been elected in a community with a vast minority population is not in and of itself the problem. The problem is the fact that minorities have seldom been able to elect someone of their choice regardless of that person’s race. It should be noted here that Latinos supported white and African American candidates in the past and lost to the white majority.
The low number of minority elected officials was no more than a red flag which set off an alarm that a problem of voter dilution might exist. It demonstrated the possibility there might be a problem but it was not in and of itself the problem. I repeat, the real problem was the inability of minorities to elect someone of their choice regardless of their preferred candidate’s race. There is a huge difference in these two premises which Mr. Thompson seems not able to or is reluctant to grasp.
Good grief! says
You sound like a Parris shill, with all of your prepared remarks. I doubt very much you were here in 1962 for the inception of anything. Elections are decided by the citizens who care enough to get off the couch and go vote. Doesn’t matter what the skin color is – but maybe the quality of the candidate has something to do with it. And this…. “white voters have gotten their preferred candidates elected and ballot issues won” what a racist statement that is.
Xavier Flores says
From the tone of your remarks, I am reluctant to answer because it seems to me you have already made up your mind. Please know that the statement I made is not my own but that has been fashioned from the court transcripts. It is true that there is racism in what is being stated, but it is not in the statement itself but rather in the reality the statement is describing.
Is is sad, indeed, to know that we, all of us, have voted as race blocks in Palmdale’s electoral past. Whites have voted as a block, Latinos as a block, and African Americans, too. Again, this is not my statement, it comes straight from the transcripts.
I don’t know what it will take to correct this, but I hope you see my attempt at fomenting understanding among us by taking the time to answer questions related to this issue. I am trying to bridge a gap between us, will you help?
IRay says
If Hispanics vote as a block then all the council and mayor would be Hispanic because they are the majority. This is all a bunch of bs coming from Paris who wants to run the vally. God help us all if that happens.
Good grief! says
You are obviously utilizing the ‘baffling them with BS’ tactic here, Flores. I’m an individual; the SMALLEST minority. I have one vote. I use it. Gosh, isn’t that a simple concept? BTW – You can only get legal spin from transcripts – so quit spewing that tripe as if it is fact. I have no respect for people who can’t think or act for themselves. PS – learn some basic math. PSS – your racism offends.
William says
You know darn well, Xavier, that Parris wants district elections so he can ‘buy’ a council seat in Palmdale. That is my suspicion.
Or are you naive? It will be easier and cheaper for him to do than when the council elections are at-large.
Mark my words, if we go to districts, we will discover that Rx is behind a particular candidate. That he’ll probably try to go through intermediaries, is my guess to hide it.
If you dispute my suspicion, then say so.
Xavier Flores says
I cannot deny nor assert your contention. I don’t have those facts but if you do, We sure would like to see them.
What I do know is that Latinos will finally have a fair chance at electing someone of their choice, whether the candidate be Latino, Caucasian, African American or Martian. It will be our choice. What I also can tell you is that if Mayor Parris inserts himself in elections meant for Latinos and African Americans, we will fight him with everything we’ve got. This is our turn at creating a political voice for ourselves, and we will do all we have to to protect that voice.
IRay says
People were played like damn fiddles by Paris. You will not be able to stop his endless supply of money. He cannot be trusted and soon his new followers will find out the hard way.
Good grief! says
“if Mayor Parris inserts himself in elections meant for Latinos and African Americans…” Yeah – nothing racist in this remark. (rolls eyes) Elections are meant for individuals, NOT ethnicities. Don’t bother responding. I am not interested in any more of your racist garbage.
Convoluted Logic says
If Latinos make up the majority of the population how can they not have a fair cahnce of electing someone of their choice? Who is to say that the Latino you support is the Latino that other Latinos support. What if a Latino supports an African American, Asian, Native American or Caucasian candidate? Imagine if all people regardless of ethnicity voted for who they thought was the best candidate.
Irena says
I would be interested in seeing the actual demographics that vote. It is no secret that traditionally minorities have a low voter turn out. Instead why not encourage more minorities to come out and vote? Or better yet, encourage them to actually run in the election.
I have a suspicion that this is yet another ploy by Perris to manipulate others around him. He talks big but in the end he is nothing but a bully who thinks he can get away with anything because he is the Mayor.
IRay says
well said Irena. Would you consider running tot a seat on the Lancaster City Council? We could sure use someone with your sensibilities running our city.
KayDee says
Oh brother… Why is this lawsuit still going on?! Just get it over with already!
Xavier Flores says
No one wants this lawsuit to end more than us, it not only has delayed justice for our community but the use of our own taxes to be used against us in this fashion is just short of sinister.