Pleasant Hill District Elections: Local Advocacy in Action

Type:

News

by Marian Shostrom, Co-chair, Action-Advocacy Committee

Overview

August 2023 Update

Related Links

_________________________________

Overview

At the January 2023 LWVDV Action-Advocacy meeting, members learned that the City of Pleasant Hill had received a letter from the Shenkman & Hughes law firm advising that the current at-large election of Pleasant Hill City Council members is in violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), and the city should transition to by-district elections. Based on the League of Women Voters' strong positions to ensure representative democracy, committee members recommended that the Board take action to support by-district elections and fair maps for Pleasant Hill.

LWVDV members used the League’s Fair Maps California Local Redistricting Toolkit and other resources to collaborate with local organizations and community groups to support a democratic and inclusive election process in Pleasant Hill. League members:

Consulted with LWVC districting experts Helen Hutchison and Chris Carson, and the Asian Law Caucus.
Organized, hosted, and publicized Zoom webinars to educate the Pleasant Hill Community about district elections.
Reached out to Diablo Valley College students, faculty, and staff.
Drafted several letters to the Pleasant Hill City Council advocating for district elections, an independent body to draw district maps, and an inclusive and transparent process. (See links to letters below.)
Spoke during public comment at Pleasant Hill City Council Meetings and District Election Hearings.
Observed and reported on City Council Meetings.

Advocating for this local issue was supported by the LWVDV Board, which is responsible for making decisions and speaking for the League. Other members volunteered time, skills, and knowledge to “make democracy work” for every resident in Pleasant Hill. Thank you to Ann Flynn, Kathy Gallagher, Carol Murota, Michelle Simone, and Leslie Stewart. League efforts contributed to the Pleasant Hill City Council doing additional public outreach, and adding more district election hearings open to the public.

At its July 17, 2023 meeting, the Pleasant Hill City Council approved an ordinance transitioning the City to a by-district election system and adopting a five-district electoral map to be used in future elections.

_____________________________________

August 2023 Update -- Election Districts Chosen:

Pleasant Hill City Council made a decision in March 2023 to move from at-large to by-district elections, beginning with the November 2024 election. The ordinance adopted by the Pleasant Hill City Council on July 17, 2023, includes a 5-district map that a preponderance of residents supported.

Pleasant Hill residents and LWVDV members Ann Flynn, Kathy Gallagher, Yehudit Lieberman, Marian Shostrom, and Michelle Simone have been actively involved for the past several months. League members provided educational forums, advocated for outreach to the community, and for transparency in the process.

During the past few months, LWVDV President Anne Granlund sent several letters to the City Council. The most recent letter commended the City Council for increasing community engagement in the democratic process.

This is an excellent example of League members making a difference in their local community!