Photo: City of El Monte / Courtesy
By: Special for Real America News Updated 25 Feb 2022, 5: 48 am EST
Next March 1st, a series of public hearings will begin in the city of El Monte to listen to the residents and thus draw the district maps in which the city will be divided into time to vote.
“If you look at all the governing bodies within the city, we have a very diverse representation that reflects the various cultures within from our community, from a wide age range, Latino, Asian, LGBTQIA+ and male and female communities,” said Mayor Jessica Ancona.
“The residents of El Monte have done a good job of electing representatives who look like them, but I also feel that by moving to the districts, we can take representation one step further for the 2024”.
Ancona underscored that as elected officials they have earned the trust of voters, “we have become gone in their voices,” she expressed. “However, we must allow their voices to be heard during this process.”
Councilwoman Dr. María Morales shared that “this is an opportunity and a testimony of the City’s relationship with its institutions and its people. It’s about representation at the city council level.”
He added, “As we move through this process, it’s incredibly important that everyone in this community feels represented”.
The past 11 January 2022, the El Monte Council adopted a resolution to begin the process of implementing district elections.
By a vote of 3-2, the Council directed City staff and consultants, the National Demographics Corporation and Elevate Public Affairs, moving forward with public hearings and community outreach to ensure residents are informed about the process and how to participate.
With the district elections, City staff expressed that they will ensure that all residents of El Monte are represented equally and fairly.
The council members who supported the motion to move forward with the district election process included interim mayor Alma Puente, council member Dra. María Morales, and council member Martín Herrera. Mayor Jessica Ancona and Councilmember Victoria Martínez Muela voted against.
According to Section 10010 of the Election Code, the City must hold two public hearings to receive comments from the general public on the proposal to move to district elections.
With a poblation of 109,905 residents, city officials said they will conduct a community outreach and encourage all residents to attend one or more of the public hearings to learn about the process, what this means to provide information on how districts should be drawn.
The first public hearing was held on 16 February. The following meetings will be:
• March 1: Public hearing to receive input on the proposal to move to district elections
• 15 of March : Public hearing to review draft maps
• 29 March: Second public hearing to review draft maps
• April 5: Second and final reading of the ordinance approving the transition to districts
Residents are encouraged to visit the site: ci.el-monte.ca.us/661/City-Council-Election-Districting for more information and feedback.