Thread: TX-Hispanic candidate's loss renews scrutiny,Irving ISD

Hispanic candidate's loss renews scrutiny of Irving ISD's at-large trustee system
10:12 AM CDT on Wednesday, May 12, 2010

By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH
kunmuth@dallasnews.com

The defeat of another Hispanic candidate in an Irving school board election might revive a challenge to the district's at-large system of electing trustees.

Pedro Portillo, pastor of the Santa Maria de Guadalupe church, received about 23 percent of the vote Saturday. The election was the first since the school district prevailed in a voting rights lawsuit.

"The way it is right now there's no chance for a Hispanic," Portillo said after his loss. "I'm well known in the community but I'm not the one who the old traditional voters in Irving want because I may challenge the district to make some changes."

In January, a federal judge found that the district's at-large voting system does not deny representation to Hispanic voters. Manuel Benavidez, who ran twice for school board and lost, had requested the creation of single-member voting districts.

Gwen Craig, a retired elementary school educator and counselor who is president of the local chapter of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, won with about 77 percent of the vote. She supports the at-large system and believes she received many Hispanic votes.

"I've been in the classroom and I have seen what kids need to learn and what educators need to learn and so I think that was a big factor in my victory," she said. "I think that's what the citizens of Irving look for – someone that can bring that experience."

There is currently no Hispanic on the Irving school board, while 69 percent of the children enrolled are Hispanic. Attempts in recent years by Hispanic candidates to run for the school board have failed. Only one Hispanic – Ruben Franco – has ever served on the Irving school board.

Portillo is a naturalized U.S. citizen and an immigrant from El Salvador who has served on district committees. He has two children enrolled in Irving schools. He said during the campaign he was questioned about why he ran for the board if he wasn't American. He said he was asked why he didn't return to Mexico.

School board president Jerry Christian said that because Portillo was a qualified candidate it looks "more doubtful" that a Hispanic can get elected to the school board. But Christian said he still supports the at-large system.

"There was a viable candidate running and he didn't get elected; that's just a fact," Christian said. "I hope before I get off the board we'll have that voice heard and group represented."

Christian said perhaps voters were uncomfortable with too much change happening at once and that many school district employees may have supported Craig because of her background working in education.

U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater dismissed the voting rights suit in January, finding that based on 2000 census data there are not enough eligible U.S. citizen Hispanic voters in the city. A high percentage of residents are immigrants. However, Fitzwater noted that the findings of the 2010 census could support the future creation of districts if there are more eligible Hispanic voters.

Christian said that if new census data shows the district could not win another lawsuit, the board will take another look at single-member district plans.

"It's just a smart thing to do it before you are sued," Christian said.

Lawyers for Benavidez also said they will also continue pursuing their case.

"We believe the voting scheme used by the Irving ISD should afford greater opportunity to the entire community," William A. Brewer of Bickel & Brewer Storefront said in a statement. "We are pursuing all of our legal options – and remain committed to seeing that the system be changed to give Latinos a greater voice in the district's political process."

Portillo said that although he supports single-member districts, low Hispanic voter turnout also is to blame. He pointed to the results of the City Council election, in which a Hispanic candidate, Trini Gonzalez, lost in a newly created single-member district.

http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/n ... b2057.html

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ILLEGALS THAT IS...

I feel really bad for the citizens of Irvine whose taxes must go to pay for 69% Hispanic school children who are mostly the responsibility of Mexico and other countries South.

This is a travesty of justice for the United States Taxpayers all across our great country.

I think towns all over America should send the education bills to the countries these children belong to or Sue them for payment.

Hey Texas ICE you got a whole town full of IA's hiding in plain site so why are you not doing your job ?

Where do all these IA's work ?

Non-voters get no votes, regaedless of the demographics of the district.

See
TX: Irving Elects First Hispanic to City Council
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-198842-.html
This man won under the old "at large" system