Brewer Star-Telegram Op-Ed Urges Keller ISD to Abandon At-Large Voting

February 6, 2025 — Brewer Storefront Chairman William Brewer writes in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that at-large election systems disadvantage minority voters. He points to the use of at-large voting to elect school board trustees in the Keller Independent School District as one example of how at large voting systems fail voters. 

"The controversy surrounding a proposal to break up the Keller Independent School District raises fresh concerns about a voting system widely recognized as discriminatory: at-large voting," Brewer writes in the opening of the opinion piece.

Brewer writes that if the more racially diverse west side of the school district was better represented on the school board, a discussion about splitting the school district would not be happening as it currently is. 

He suggests that cumulative voting and single-member districts offer a remedy to violations of the Voting Rights Act, for Keller ISD and other school boards. 

"Even casual observers know that at-large voting schemes — in which officials are elected across an entity rather than to represent specific districts — typically result in power being consolidated in the 'majority' of voters to the exclusion of even sizable minorities in communities," Brewer writes.

He suggests that cumulative voting offers a more equitable solution and writes that "if a school board election is for three seats, a voter could cast all three votes for a single candidate. This enables smaller but cohesive voting blocs to secure representation, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making."

Brewer concludes that, "[Keller ISD] Trustees should shelve their plans to dismantle the district and adopt a voting system that enables participation of those whose views will better reflect the students the district is failing."

Read the op-ed here.

Houston Public Media Reports on Texas Voting Rights Initiative

March 19, 2024 – Houston Public Media reports on warning letters sent by Brewer Storefront to two Houston-area school districts notifying them that their at large election systems used for electing school board trustees could be violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Brewer Storefront is the community service affiliate of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors.

Letters were sent to 11 Texas school districts as a part of Brewer Storefront's newly launched Texas Voting Rights Initiative. The letters request that Houston area school districts Angleton ISD and Humble ISD adopt single member district election systems that create at least one opportunity district for Hispanic voters. 

The article notes that Brewer Storefront has brought several Voting Rights Act challenges against school districts and municipalities in Texas.

The article notes that, “Brewer Storefront, which has made legal challenges that prompted similar changes at five school districts in the Dallas area, said a lack of diversity and equitable geographic representation on school boards can result in disenfranchised voters, underfunding and achievement gaps for both schools and their individual students.”

The article reports that Sergio Lira, a Houston League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) leader,  praised Brewer Storefront for highlighting Texas school districts that could have more equitable and reflective representation on their boards. 

Houston Public Media quoted Brewer Storefront Chairman William A. Brewer III stating that, "We urge these school districts to take proactive steps in adopting election systems that comply with the Voting Rights Act and create districts that give voters of color a fair opportunity to participate in the electoral process. We believe our political institutions work best when they give all voters an opportunity to elect candidates of their choosing."

Read more here.

Brewer Storefront Launches Texas Voting Rights Initiative; Calls on Communities to Comply With Voting Rights Act of 1965

March 7, 2024, Dallas, Texas…The Brewer Storefront today announced the launch of the Texas Voting Rights Initiative (“TVRI”), a statewide effort focused on ensuring that Texas school boards operate in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (“VRA”). The Storefront undertook an extensive analysis of voting systems across Texas and believes that many operate in violation of the VRA.

The TVRI will continue to analyze voting systems used for electing school board trustees and city council members across Texas, advance written scholarship, and pursue legal action to uphold and strengthen voting rights.  

The TVRI is supported by the Brewer Storefront, the public service legal affiliate of the national litigation firm Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. Since its establishment in 1995, the Storefront has brought numerous successful voting rights lawsuits on behalf of Latino, African American and Asian voters across North Texas.

“The Texas Voting Rights Initiative will promote democratic principles and voter equality at an important time,” said William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Storefront. “We believe our political institutions work best when they give all voters an opportunity to elect candidates of their choosing.”    

Why It Matters – Equality and Opportunity in Education

A lack of diversity and equitable geographic representation on school boards often leads to underfunded schools, school and student achievement gaps, and disenfranchised voters.

In Texas, a considerable academic achievement gap still exists between white and minority students. In 2023, 64% of white students met grade level across all grades and subjects tested on the STAAR exam, compared to 42% of Hispanic students and 36% of African American students who met grade level. Given this disparity, Brewer Storefront believes the communities of color that Texas school districts educate deserve fair representation on elected school boards.

The need for a statewide voting rights initiative in Texas is critical, given its status as the nation’s second largest state, with a population exceeding 30 million people. Texas is a majority-minority state, with Hispanics as its largest population group. Despite this, many elected bodies, including local school boards and city councils, fail to reflect the state’s demographics, especially as voters of color continue to make up an increasing share of the electorate.

The TVRI’s initial focus is on school boards since as of last year, nearly three-quarters of the students enrolled in Texas public schools were children of color, and about 53% of all students were Hispanic.

The Storefront has successfully challenged many at-large election systems and inequitably drawn single-member districts. Through lawsuits filed under the Voting Rights Act, these challenges have argued that such systems deprive voters of color of a fair opportunity to meaningfully participate in the electoral process and to elect school board representatives or city council members of their choosing.   

The Storefront pursues its voting rights cases under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices or procedures that discriminate based on race, color, or membership in a language minority group.   This advocacy frequently results in the establishment of single-member districts, ensuring minority voters have a fair opportunity in the electoral process and enabling them to actively participate in shaping the political landscape.

Following its assessment, the TVRI, through the Storefront, issued warning letters to 11 Texas school districts alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act. The school districts are Alamo Heights Independent School District, Angleton Independent School District, Arlington Independent School District, Corsicana Independent School District, Dumas Independent School District, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District, Garland Independent School District, Humble Independent School District, Lufkin Independent School District, New Braunfels Independent School District, and Texarkana Independent School District.

“We urge these school districts to take proactive steps in adopting election systems that comply with the Voting Rights Act and create districts that give voters of color a fair opportunity to participate in the electoral process,” Brewer said. “Elected school boards should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.”

The letters request that the school boards in these districts take corrective actions and implement opportunity districts where a majority of eligible voters are Hispanic or African American.

The Storefront previously achieved winning outcomes in Voting Rights Act cases with the Lewisville Independent School District in August 2023, Richardson Independent School District in 2019, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District in 2015; City of Grand Prairie in 2015; Irving Independent School District in 2014; Grand Prairie Independent School District in 2014; City of Farmers Branch in 2012; and City of Irving in 2009. These school districts and city councils now utilize remodeled voting systems.   

 Contact:  

Katherine Leal Unmuth  

Brewer Storefront Associate Director

214.653.4832  kunmuth@brewerattorneys.com

Dallas Morning News Reports on Brewer Storefront Texas Voting Rights Initiative

March 7, 2024 – The Dallas Morning News reports that Brewer Storefont sent warning letters to 11 Texas school districts alleging that their election systems violate the Voting Rights Act. 

Brewer Storefront is the community service affiliate of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. The article reports that the letters emphasize that at large election systems used by many school districts to elect school board trustees deny voters of color an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. 

In an Interview with the Morning News, Partner William A. Brewer III emphasized the importance of diversity in school board representation, noting that "We've picked districts where we believe that the performance gaps really compel us, if we care, to try to engender a change." 

The article noted that the firm, along with sending the letters, is launching the Texas Voting Rights Initiative, a statewide effort to ensure trustee elections comply with the law.

"Our demographics have changed," Brewer said. "And our systems need to respond to that." 

Read more here.

Dallas Morning News: Grand Prairie ISD Settles Election Lawsuit, to Go to Single-Member Districts

September 26, 2014 – The Dallas Morning News reports that Bickel & Brewer Storefront (now Brewer Storefront) announced the settlement of a voting rights lawsuit brought against the Grand Prairie Independent School District.  

The lawsuit, filed by the Bickel & Brewer Storefront on behalf of Victor Rodriguez, claimed that the at-large system denied fair representation to Hispanic citizens. As part of the settlement, the district agreed to transition to a new electoral system consisting of five single-member districts and two at-large districts. Two of the single-member districts adopted were made up of a majority of eligible voters who were Latino U.S. citizens. 

"We are pleased that the school board agreed to adopt an electoral system that provides Latino voters in the district a meaningful opportunity to participate in the political process," William A. Brewer III, partner at the Storefront, said in a statement. "Beyond the benefits to this school district, we believe the actions taken here are instructive to other school boards across the state." 

The article noted that Hispanic students made up more than 60 percent of the student body, while the citizen voting age population was almost 34 percent Hispanic. 

The lawsuit argued that the at-large system prevented effective participation by the Hispanic electorate. The article also referenced similar lawsuits filed by Bickel & Brewer in nearby cities, leading to changes in their voting systems.  

Read more here.