The Associated Press

Published: 9:05 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2010


DALLAS — A Dallas suburb that's repeatedly made national headlines over efforts to ban illegal immigrants from renting housing finds its city electoral system again challenged in court.

Ten Hispanic residents filed a federal civil rights suit in Dallas on Tuesday against Farmers Branch, alleging its at-large system for electing the five-member city council denies Hispanic residents representation. It calls for adoption of a single-member voting plan.

The lawsuit cites census figures that Hispanic residents comprise 48 percent of the estimated 2008 population of more than 28,000, 25 percent of which were Hispanic residents eligible to vote. Census studies show Hispanic residents are concentrated in one section of the city, but the lawsuit contends citywide voting denies them a council seat.

All five council members and the mayor are white. A previous lawsuit on the issue was dismissed.

___

July 20, 2010 10:05 PM EDT


http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/dal ... =rss_texas