Updated April 10, 2022: El Monte’s city council approved district-based elections by a 3-2 vote with Mayor Pro Tem Alma Puente, Councilmember Maria Morales, and Councilmember Martin Herrera voting for it and Mayor Jessica Ancona and Councilwoman Victoria Martinez Muela voting against it.
By early April, the at-large electoral process the city of El Monte has had since 1912 may come to a close.
That’s according to city manager Alma Martinez. City leaders have proposed eliminating at-large seats for six district-based ones.
Supporters of district-based elections say they could help save time and money since candidates run within their area, so they don’t need as much funding for ads — which could help thwart the impact of monied interests in campaigns. However, one advantage — that it forces candidates to focus on narrower issues affecting their neighborhoods — can also be considered a downside.
“This is an opportunity and a testament to the city’s relationship with its institutions and people. It’s about representation at the city council level,” Councilwoman Maria Morales said. “As we go through this process, it is essential that everyone in this community feels represented.”
But some residents and leaders are troubled by how quickly such dramatic changes would take effect and have called for local officials to take more time to research the idea and how the maps will be drawn.
“I do want the community to understand that I do think that this is a worthwhile process. But I disagree with the rushed process that we’re engaged with right now,” said Councilwoman Victoria Martinez Muela at a public hearing in early March. “I don’t think that we are allowing ourselves the opportunity to truly engage our community, especially as this pandemic is starting to…eliminate some of the restrictions of gathering.”
The change would divide the city into “multiple districts with one council member elected by voters residing within each district” — potentially impacting all of the city’s nearly 110,000 residents, according to a city public hearing notice and a city press release.
According to the hearing notice, the city council’s current system allows the mayoral candidate with the most votes to be elected mayor and the two top vote-getters for the council to get two of the four open city council positions.
The motion to change to district-based elections was supported in votes taken in January and March by Mayor Pro Tem Alma Puente, Councilmember Maria Morales, and Councilmember Martin Herrera. Mayor Jessica Ancona and Councilmember Victoria Martinez Muela opposed it.
“I believe the community would like to engage in a public forum where they can do questions and answers,” Ancona said at the meeting in early March. “I think that’s the least we should do for the community given that these maps won’t change for another ten years.”
While the two opposing council members were out-numbered, many of their constituents agree with their skepticism.
El Monte resident Gabriel Ramirez said during the public hearing: “I’m confused with this because it’s too rushed, too early. I think it’s time to be more transparent. We should wait until the next election, which is 2024.”
Another meeting attendee, Cosme Jimenez, agreed: “This city doesn’t have transparency. It cannot benefit a special person — a special group. It’s gotta benefit the people first, the ones who are paying the taxes first.”
Residents noted the timeline has been too quick from the city’s resolution in January to begin the process and public hearings in February and March to finalize the process by early April “In time to implement the new voting system for the November 8” election, according to the press release.
That means, noted Council Member Martinez Muela, that people would only have three weeks from the date of the March 1 hearing to submit their district ideas with a mapping tool designed by the National Demographics Corp. and Elevate Public Affairs.
Some residents had other concerns.
For instance, a speaker named Alexis Proctor said district zoning could interfere with the “horse community” where she lives.
“Your map is incorrect. You don’t even show the streets and where the horse properties are. So how can we have a fair say on what goes on?” Proctor said, adding that those communities include other farm animals, which would be inconvenient for El Monte residents who aren’t used to being awakened by barn noises.
Puente, mayor pro tem, said she understood since she lives near a horse community.
“I know that there are parts of the city that very closely border Arcadia, and that’s where the horse properties are,” Puente said, asking NDC to address the issue.
According to the NDC consultant, El Monte has multiple areas with horses, Ken Chawkins.
“Those are very different places. Can we guarantee they’re all going to be in one community? No, but if it makes sense,” he said. “We’re not cutting anybody off. We go all the way to the borders.”
The next public hearing will be March 29, and the final vote will happen on April 5.
Community News produces stories about under-covered neighborhoods and small cities on the Eastside and South Los Angeles. Please email feedback, corrections, and story tips to [email protected].
Stephen Ramirez • May 10, 2022 at 4:51 am
This El Monte move to district election appears to be a obvious plot by the Ex Mayor Andre Quintero’s team El Monte to take advantage of the drop in voter interest and history of voting on a midterm election. It’s rush through the process would appear to be done to keep the residents from knowing this process is being made. This is made obvious by the lack of people attending such an important public hearing when you have a city population of 110,000. This has been a noticeable practice of the city council to not make an effort to reach the public to invite them to important public hearings. The plot would be come clear when the map was chosen and it was clear that all of the current city council members residences all convinetly landed within a district and the 2 new districts is where the ex Mayor Andre Quintero and Ex City council member Jerry Velasco each live. Even the people from the community voiced there concerns over this process the City Council passed the move to districts and selected the Map. They then have done nothing to notify the public of the passing of the move to districts or to notify the public that they can run for these districts or how they voting will work. I have since looked on there website and even the info booths at the city’s Thursdays farmers market for the last three weeks and there is nothing that mentions the move to districts. If no notification is made to the public each of the city council members, the Mayor, Andre Quintero, and Jerry Valosco will win their election uncontested. Please let this be know. I will not let this happen in my district 6. I fully intend on running for my district and I am currently encouraging others to also run for the other districts because this also leaves these city council members vulnerable of getting all replaced . The people of El Monte finally can flex their voting power and rid El Monte of the corruption and elect people they can trust to represent them. With the districts I have an excellent chance of winning because I am a life long resident with a family that is known in district 6 . I will bring transparency back to not only my district but to all of El Monte residence.
Steve Ramirez for district 6