Dallas Morning News: Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Scraps At-Large Voting in Settlement, Gets First Latino Trustee

October 9, 2015 – The Dallas Morning News reports that the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District board voted 5-2 to approve a settlement in a voting rights lawsuit filed against the district by Brewer Storefront on behalf of plaintiff Guillermo Ramos. 

As part of the settlement, CFB ISD agreed to transition to a cumulative voting process, allowing voters to cast as many votes as there are open seats and distribute their votes among candidates as they choose. 

The lawsuit claimed that the at-large system denied fair representation to Hispanic citizens and violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The lawsuit stated that since at least 1995, bloc voting by white voters resulted in the defeat of every Latino candidate.  

A trustee resigned as part of the settlement and Ramos took her place on the school board, adding a Hispanic member to the board. Ramos stated that, “I am proud to have pursued this lawsuit.”  

Under the settlement, the district agreed to conduct voter registration efforts and offer accessible voting opportunities for the Latino community.  

Attorney William Brewer, who represented Ramos, said the changes confirmed that “there will be greater political opportunity for the Latino community.”  

Read more here. 

Dallas Morning News: Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD Accused of Voting Rights Violations

April 25, 2015 – The Dallas Morning News reports that a federal lawsuit filed against the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD) by Guillermo Ramos accused the district of violating the Voting Rights Act with its at-large elections. 

The lawsuit alleged that the at-large election system denied representation to Latinos. According to the lawsuit, none of the seven trustees was Hispanic, despite the fact that about 55 percent of the students in the district are Hispanic. 

“In racially polarized communities where one group has the power to exclude another group from participation, that’s illegal,” said Ramos’ attorney, William A. Brewer III. “It’s probably more of an issue where there is a large and growing influx of Hispanics in the community.” 

Brewer argued that the creation of single-member districts would afford the Hispanic community a chance to elect Hispanic representatives to the school board. The article also mentions that Ramos previously sued the city of Farmers Branch over an ordinance barring unauthorized immigrants from housing. 

“We believe the community is entitled to single-member districts,” Brewer said. “That would afford the Hispanic community a chance to elect Hispanics to the school board.” 

The article highlights the broader context of voting rights issues in North Texas, noting that Bickel & Brewer Storefront has challenged other area voting practices, including those in Grand Prairie ISD. 

The article highlights the broader context of voting rights issues in North Texas, noting that the Storefront had challenged other area voting practices, including those in Grand Prairie ISD. 

Brewer expressed confidence that a change to the district's system would encourage more Hispanic candidates to run for the school board 

Read more here.