Jonathan Ahmadi suspended his Santa Clarita City Council campaign Monday and has started a committee to create districts for the City of Santa Clarita.

Ahmadi, the former senior field representative for Congresswoman Katie Hill, announced his candidacy in January.

“First and foremost, I want to thank all of you that supported this campaign,” he said. “I was so encouraged by the incredible outpouring of support I received from this community and will be forever grateful for it. Supporters, volunteers and donors are the lifeblood of any campaign and this would not have been possible without each and every single one of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

On March 19, the City Council voted to move forward with district voting instead of the current at-large system, after a potential California Voting Rights Act lawsuit.

The CRVA allows for challenges to at-large election systems, which the City of Santa Clarita has maintained since incorporation in 1987.

“This is the right decision,” Ahmadi said. “I’m sure the merits of this change will be debated for some time but, considering the threat of litigation, the City had no choice.”

The letter was sent by Scott Rafferty, a Northern California lawyer who has sent similar letters to several cities, and who has refused to identify his clients. By virtue of sending such a letter, Rafferty is automatically entitled to $30,000 of taxpayer money under the Elections Code.

See Related: Santa Clarita City Council Votes To Move Forward Change To District Voting

The vast majority of cities that received a demand letter have opted to switch to election by districts, although some have attempted to litigate. Out of the cities which attempted to defend the suit, none have been successful, according to City officials.

“I do not know if this means that we will have a more representative local government. I do know that it will make the process much more accessible to more people, and in my mind, that is a good thing,” Ahmadi said. “That makes today bittersweet for me. While it marks the end of this journey, this campaign, it marks the beginning of a new venture.”

Ahmadi is forming an independent committee of volunteers to develop a district map that is representative of the “rich history and diversity” of the Santa Clarita community for consideration by the community and the City Council.

“The secondary mission of this committee will be to encourage public awareness and dialogue about the process of transitioning to district-based elections,” he said.

“How we select our elected representatives is as important, if not more so, than who represents us. I believe in a system of government where voters select their elected officials, not vice versa, and I could not have continued my campaign for City Council while developing and debating the merits of one map or another,” Ahmadi said.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.