An attorney has sent a letter threatening litigation on the Santa Clarita City Council for not complying with the California Voting Rights Act, which would require the city to be divided into different jurisdictions.    

Currently, Santa Clarita City Council members all serve the entirety of the Santa Clarita Valley, however, the letter states that the city would need to designate jurisdictions to the different councilmembers. 

In a prior letter sent by Scott Rafferty, an attorney representing voters, to Mayor Bill Miranda the letter stated he was not threatening litigation against the City but emphasized that the city needed to comply with the state’s ordinances, but this letter is different.

“Nineteen months ago, you promised your constituents that you would do precisely that, specifically prohibiting any delay, except as required by the pandemic,” Rafferty said to Miranda in the letter. “This letter is, however, different and does anticipate litigation.  You must adopt 

an ordinance requiring district elections and either accept the proposed map or schedule a public hearing at which your constituents can suggest improvements. Otherwise, my clients, acting on behalf of the voters of Santa Clarita, will promptly file an action to enjoin further at-large elections.”  

Read the Full Letter: Letter To Mayor Miranda On District Elections — Scott J. Rafferty — Oct. 19, 2021

This is not the first time the City Council has been faced with this topic.  

“I am grateful to the City Clerk Cusick for providing records of the 2014 settlement with attorney R. Rex Parris, Esq., in which members Smyth, Weste and McLean voted to spend $600,000 of the voters’ money to keep at-large elections,” Rafferty said. “The settlement was structured so that Mayor Parris received more attorneys’ fees because the court did not accept alternative remedy, and conveniently allowed the council incumbents to maintain at-large elections.  It is a fantasy to think that the council can again use public funds to buy their way out of conducting the competitive elections that are required by law.” 

Rafferty is pushing to have the five Santa Clarita City Council members, each representing their own district inside the City. It would mean citizens would only get to vote for one city councilmember, the one residing in their section of the City. There could be many negative unintended consequences should the City be forced by the courts to alter its representation.

KHTS Radio has reached out to the City for comment, however, they are not releasing any statement due to the pending litigation. 

To read the full letter, click here.

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