City of Napa Petitioned to Transition to District Elections

Attorney Scott Rafferty sent the Napa City Council a petition on behalf of members of the Napa County Progressive Alliance, requesting the City of Napa to transition to district-based elections and away from its current at-large system for the November 2020 general election, in order to comply with the California Voting Rights Act of 2001.

The letter, sent via certified mail on December 27th, cited evidence that Latinos in Napa vote differently than Anglo voters (called “racially polarized voting”) and that their votes are diluted by the current at-large system in violation of the Act.

In a district election, each candidate for Napa City Council would run only in a defined area in which he or she lives versus the current at-large system in which all candidates run citywide.

According to the letter, the City of Napa had district elections in its 1903 charter but adopted at-large elections in 1914 in response to a statewide movement. Most cities of similar size have since returned to district elections to accommodate a more diverse population and to provide for more competitive, neighborhood-based elections.

“While the California Voting Rights Act seeks to protect and amplify the voices of minority groups that might otherwise be drowned out, we believe the change to district elections benefits all voters by leveling the playing field for grassroots candidates who refuse corporate donations and by ensuring the City Council truly represents the entire City,” stated Amy Martenson, Napa County Progressive Alliance Co-coordinator.

To avoid potential litigation and limit its expenses, the City Council must pass a resolution of its intent to transition within 45 days of the receipt of the letter and adopt an ordinance establishing district elections 90 days after that. The process includes four public map hearings, so the community can give input into the creation of the districts, including whether the Mayor should continue to be elected at-large or be selected annually by Council members as done by many cities.

When mapping the districts, the Council must establish districts of equal population, consider socio-economic factors other than race, and attempt to keep neighborhoods together.

“In addition to moving to district elections, we encourage the City Council to implement a citizens redistricting commission to redraw the map, as needed, after each decennial census to make sure it continues to comply with these criteria,” said Martenson.