Thread: Federal judge dismisses voting rights lawsuit against Farmer

Federal judge dismisses voting rights lawsuit against Farmers Branch

04:59 PM CST on Tuesday, November 4, 2008
By STEPHANIE SANDOVAL / The Dallas Morning News


A federal court judge has dismissed a voting rights lawsuit against Farmers Branch in which three Hispanic residents sought to force the city to move from at-large voting for the City Council to single-member districts.

The plaintiffs had argued the at-large system diluted the voting strength of Hispanics, who have never been elected to the council. They also contended that if the city were divided into districts, one could be created with a Hispanic majority.

Today, Judge Reed O’Connor dismissed the suit with prejudice, meaning the suit cannot be brought again by these plaintiffs.

Judge O’Connor said the plaintiffs did not prove that a majority-minority single-member district could be created.

The lawsuit was filed shortly after the May 2007 council elections. The plaintiffs had contended that if single-member districts were in place, Jose Galvez would have been elected. He was the first Hispanic to run for the council. The suit also came just days after more than two-thirds of Farmers Branch voters ratified a city ordinance seeking to halt apartment rentals to illegal immigrants.

“I was told by an attorney before the suit was filed that they were doing it in retaliation for the immigration ordinance,â€

Great news for Farmers Branch! As in any election, you vote for the candidates you feel most qualified (at least that is the ideal). To change the electoral system in the city to accommodate prejudice or a certain ethnic group would be outrageous.

Why do "Hispanics" need representation?? Maybe the Irish or the Germans, or perhaps the French of Hungarians would like representation. What is unique about them that is not met by the needs and services provided for all citizens regardless of ethnicity. Do they want to vote themselves some benefits?