Lake Highlands Advocate Reports on First Hispanic Trustee Elected in Richardson ISD After Brewer Storefront Voting Rights Case

On July 27, 2020, The Lake Highlands Advocate reported that Debbie Rentería was sworn in as the first ever Hispanic trustee on the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) Board of Trustees in May.  

Rentería represents majority-minority District 3, which was created after a Brewer Storefront Voting Rights Act lawsuit was brought on behalf of plaintiff and former RISD board member David Tyson. The Storefront is the community service legal affiliate of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors.

A settlement reached with RISD established a new election system including five single member districts, of which two districts are minority “opportunity” districts. Regina Harris, who is African American, was elected to the District 4 opportunity district in November 2019.  

“When I saw that Debbie Rentería didn’t draw an opponent – and I don’t mean this to sound biblical – I said, ‘It is finished. My part is finished. We’ve achieved what we sought,” Tyson told the Advocate. “What we wanted was opportunity for people of color to feel comfortable running.” 

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Lake Highlands Advocate Reports on Positive Impact of Brewer Storefront Voting Rights Case

On February, 19, 2020, the Lake Highlands Advocate reported on increased diversity among Richardson ISD (RISD) school board members following a Brewer Storefront voting rights lawsuit brought on behalf of plaintiff and former RISD board member David Tyson. A settlement reached with RISD established a new election system including five single member districts, of which two districts are minority “opportunity” districts. The Storefront is the Brewer firm’s community service legal affiliate.

 The article reported that Regina Harris, who is African American, was elected to the District 4 opportunity district, which includes the historic Hamilton Park neighborhood in November 2019. Debbie Renteria, who is Hispanic, filed for the District 3 opportunity district seat and will be taking that seat in May 2020.

 Tyson reflected on the additions of Harris and Renteria to the board: “My part is finished. We’ve achieved what we sought.’ What we wanted was opportunity for people of color to feel comfortable running. Winning is equally important, but they first have to feel comfortable enough to run. I have always said we needed to have black and brown representation on the board. I’ve put my reputation on the line and my business on the line. My job now is finished.”

Tyson also reflected on the lawsuit: ““I expected to win…because attorneys at Brewer Storefront had a track record in Grand Prairie, Irving and Carrollton-Farmers Branch, and they wouldn’t have taken the case if they didn’t think they had a reasonable chance of winning.”

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