By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter.
Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: It's a months-old battle that's already seen a new, board-approved map thrown out by a judge because of closed-door discussions that should've been public. The map in question was a so-called status quo map. It included two majority districts each of Hispanics, Anglos, and African-Americans, and three plurality districts, in which no one ethnic group holds a majority. It was one of two final maps being considered by the board last night and the one expected to be approved again. Latino speakers, among them Joe Campos and Brenda Reyes, considered it an insult.
Joe Campos, citizen: This board was elected to represent this community and the population of this school district is made up of a majority of Latino students. This board has spent almost one year on this issue, and you've taken two steps backwards.
Brenda Reyes, Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: We're not asking to be over-represented, we're not asking for more than we deserve. You guys are turning your backs on us because you're more concerned about your incumbency. Shame on you.
Zeeble: To create a third Hispanic district, one of the incumbents would have to lose a significant chunk of theirs. And if that district were African-American, as it was on the map favored by Hispanics, the U.S. Justice Department would likely disallow it on civil rights grounds. Another Latino complaint was aimed at the recent, board-funded findings of three different demographers. All said there simply weren't enough Hispanic voters in the district to legally create another Latino district, even though 40% of the population is Hispanic. Some speakers challenged the demographers' methods. Trustee Rafael Anchia attacked the argument that only Latinos who are legal, voting-aged citizens can be counted.
Rafael Anchia, trustee: Nowhere in the board's redistricting criteria do I see the phrase citizen voting age. Not surprisingly, no other political subdivision in Dallas has used this standard.
Zeeble: Anchia then quoted from a Yale Law Journal article.
Anchia: Excluding non-citizens is a tempting strategy for incumbent politicians fearful of losing their seats to a growing immigrant community. Citizens and non-citizens alike deserve representation. The focus on redistricting is representation. I would argue that a U.S. citizen in Dallas whose children are in a private school in New England or North Dallas are much less reliant on representation on this board than a non-citizen parent from Arcadia Park, Fair Park, or West Dallas that send their children to a public school.
Zeeble: Trustee Ron Price however, an African-American whose district would be chopped up under the map favored by Hispanics, disagreed.
Ron Price, school board member: The district I presently represent is not an all Black district. It's not an all Hispanic district, it's not all White. It's a district that represents the diversity of our city. It's a district where we don't care what color you are. We care about every child inside of our schools. And we don't want to use our children as pawns to make sure anyone can get power or a seat.
Zeeble: Some have argued this battle is really about political and financial power. New Latino board votes could mean more money or contracts going to different districts or suppliers over others. But the argument that eventually persuaded six trustees to reject the map favored by Hispanics was a legal one. Board member George Williams?
George Williams, trustee: Will that map in your opinion pass the Department of Justice, and if not, why?
Zeeble: Dallas school attorney David Mendez wasn't convinced it could pass. Then Williams asked Mendez if the status-quo map could gain Justice Department approval. Mendez answered yes.
David Mendez, attorney for DISD: I've said that before, and yes sir, I'll repeat it. It's pre-clearable and defendable in court.
Zeeble: And following the 6-to-3 vote for the status quo map, court is where this is headed, according to attorney Adelfa Callejo.
Adelfa Callejo, attorney: We'll file the lawsuit. First we'll file objections with the Justice Department. I've already talked to the Justice Department. I know we can submit our own map and they will consider it.
Zeeble: The three trustees who voted against the status quo map were Rafael Anchia, Kathleen Leos, and Doctor Lois Parrott. For KERA 90.1, I'm Bill Zeeble.