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Latinos In Escondido Threaten Suit For Lack Of Representation On Council

Escondido City Hall
City of Escondido
Escondido City Hall
Latino Group Threatens To Sue Escondido For Violating Voting Rights
GuestsJim Finberg is an attorney representing clients in Escondido threatening the lawsuit. Cesar Diaz, the legislative director of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. Deborah Seiler, San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

The City of Escondido has been put on notice: Change the way City Council members are elected, or get sued.

Civil rights attorneys say the city may be in violation of California election law, because Latinos are not being adequately represented on the council.

Escondido's mayor disagrees, and has been quoted saying the threat is an effort to overturn the voters will.

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“They elected me as mayor,” Abed said. “I am a minority, so what’s the problem? The problem is very simple: It’s political. They disagree with our policy on the checkpoints. We are not going to change that. We are supporting the traffic safety checkpoints because of public safety."