Thread: CA. Hesperia to require proof of citizenship to hold seat in city

• CITY GOVERNMENT
  
  
  Hesperia to require proof of citizenship to hold seat in city
• 
  
• By Rene Ray De La Cruz
  Staff Writer
  Posted Sep. 2, 2015 at 5:54 PM
  
  
  HESPERIA — The City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night that will make proof of U.S. citizenship a requirement to hold a seat on the Council or any city committee or commission.
  
  
  Council and staff reviewed a request that was brought forth by Mayor Eric Schmidt at a previous meeting to review the eligibility requirements.
  
  After a lengthy discussion, Council and staff discussed the best method that would prove an individual’s citizenship. Mayor Pro Tem Bill Holland said the amended resolution will include language that includes “a U.S. citizen as evidenced by U.S. registered voter status.”
  
  Holland said city staff will now contact the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters to obtain a voter registration confirmation number for anyone who would be appointed to or seek a Hesperia seat.
  
  Previously, eligibility requirements for Planning Commission members included living within the city or its sphere of influence. For all other appointed seats, individuals must reside in the city of Hesperia in order to serve.
  
  “It’s only right that those who serve be United States citizens,” Councilman Russ Blewett told the Daily Press. “That’s the way it should be done.”
  
  Blewett added that while serving as a councilman for Baldwin Park over 40 years ago, he was excited to see the city’s first Hispanic treasurer and councilman.
  
  During public comments Tuesday night, activist Raymond Herrera used a camera to record video of the seated Council members and staff as he applauded their consideration of the resolution.
  
  The self-dubbed “expert on immigration” who lives in Claremont told the Council they were “all Americans,” compared to the Huntington Park City Council “where five of the six Council members are illegal aliens that have been voted into office through fraudulent voting practices.”
  
  The Huntington Park website reveals that the city located in Los Angeles County has five Council members, which include Mayor Karina Macias and Vice Mayor Graciela Ortiz as well as Valentin Amezquita, Johnny Pineda and Marilyn Sanabria.
  
  The website states that Ortiz was born and raised in Huntington Park and that Pineda immigrated to the U.S. at age 13. A spokeswoman with the Huntington Park city manager’s office told the Daily Press that their city manager would respond to the paper’s request to verify the citizenship of the Council and to answer any questions.
  
  In August, Pineda announced the appointment of two undocumented immigrants. Those appointments were Julian Zatarain, who will work with the parks and recreation commission, and Frank Medina, who will serve with the health and education commission, according to the Los Angeles Times.
  
  Both seats have no power to determine city policy and the appointments make Huntington Park the first municipality to have undocumented immigrants on its commissions, the Times said.
  
  Herrera said residents of Huntington Park invited him to their Council meetings. He also added that “illegal aliens in America are not like the American people — we’re moral people.”
  
  “The illegal aliens, primarily from Mexico, they’ll lie and cheat, and do every kind of fraudulent certificate that they can do to be able to vote,” Herrera told the Hesperia City Council.
  
  Herrera closed his address by saying, “I want to commend the City Council for being American and being American created, and for having the vested interest for your constituents — Americans, and not of illegal aliens. So with that said America, you’re looking at an all-American City Council.”
  
  The Hesperia Council and staff did not mention Huntington Park during the meeting.
  
  Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLa
  
  Cruz@VVDailyPress.com or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
  
  http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/...NEWS/150909928

"a U.S. citizen as evidenced by U.S. registered voter status.” Some states are talking "automatic" voter registration with a driver's license and there has been voter fraud reported already in the news. A SS # is usually required for the drivers license process but......somehow a # can be obtained.