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. 

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.  

Dallas Morning News: Grand Prairie ISD Sued Over At-Large Elections in Latest Voting Rights Act Suit

May 13, 2013 – The Dallas Morning News reports that a federal lawsuit was filed against the Grand Prairie Independent School District (GPISD) over its at-large school board elections. 

The lawsuit, filed by Bickel & Brewer (now Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors) on behalf of plaintiff Victor Rodriguez, claimed that the at-large system was designed to protect the political power of the Anglo majority and deny representation to Hispanic citizens of voting age in the district. Hispanic students made up the majority of the district's enrollment, yet all seven school board members were white men.  

The lawsuit argued that the election system prevented Hispanic voters from having the ability to participate effectively in local elections.  

“The voting system is inappropriate in our view,” said William A. Brewer III, lead counsel for Rodriguez, a voter in the school district. “When you talk to the demographic experts about whether you can create Hispanic opportunity districts, this is another one of these cases where change is needed in order for the Hispanic electorate to have the ability to participate." 

The article further details the history of similar lawsuits filed by Brewer in nearby cities, such as Farmers Branch and Irving, which led to changes in their voting systems. 

Read more here. 

Wall Street Journal: Latino Activists Seize on Texas Ruling to Boost Voting Power

July 25, 2009 – The Wall Street Journal reports on Brewer Storefront’s successful Voting Rights Act lawsuit and federal court decision that ordered Irving, Texas, to reorganize its City Council election system to give Hispanics more voting power.  

The reporting observed that Latino activists were using the successful case as a “template” nationwide in efforts to force electoral changes in communities.  

U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis ruled that the city’s system of electing council members “at large” diluted the influence of Hispanic voters. The new system to remedy the violation was described as likely to be electing council members by district (a transition approved after this article’s publication).  

The Journal article noted that following the decision, “With the data in hand, [Latino activists] plan to press politicians to give Latino residents more influence when they redraw congressional and state legislative districts, and to force cities and towns to retool municipal elections -- or face lawsuits like the one in Irving.” 

The lawsuit was brought by Manuel Benavidez, a Hispanic resident, and while Latinos made up nearly 42% of the city’s population, only one Latino had won a city council seat in the prior 20 years, and he did not have a Spanish surname nor did he acknowledge any Hispanic heritage until after his election.  

Bill Brewer, the attorney who represented Benavidez, said his “phone has been ringing off the hook” since the court ruling from activists in other cities who wanted to bring similar cases.  

Read more here. 

Dallas Morning News: Closing Arguments Heard in Irving Voting Rights Trial

February 21, 2009 – The Dallas Morning News reports that closing arguments were held in a trial over whether the Irving City Council’s at-large voting system suppressed the votes of Hispanics and violated the Voting Rights Act. 

U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis said he hoped to decide within a month whether to require the council to create single-member districts. 

Brewer Storefront represented plaintiff Manuel Benavidez, who filed the federal lawsuit claiming that the city’s at-large voting system blocked the votes of Hispanics.  

David Ely, an expert for Benavidez, testified that he found several possible districts where eligible voters were mainly Hispanic.  

Dallas Morning News: Trial Over Voting Sees First Battle

February 18, 2009 – The Dallas Morning News reports that a federal court challenge to the City of Irving’s at-large City Council elections opened with disagreements over data interpretation.  

Brewer Storefront represented plaintiff Manuel Benavidez in a voting rights lawsuit against the city, arguing that its at-large voting method effectively denies representation to Hispanics.  

Expert David Ely testified that socioeconomic and educational disparities between Irving’s Hispanic and white populations made successful city council campaigns difficult for Hispanics.  

“It’s more difficult for candidates from this community to obtain the vote,” Ely said. He said he used 2000 U.S. Census data, 2006 Census estimates and his own projects to develop possible Hispanic voter majority districts.  

Dallas Morning News: Voting Rights Trial Set to Begin Today

February 17, 2009 – The Dallas Morning News reports that a trial was set to open in federal court in which plaintiff Manuel Benavidez sued the City of Irving, alleging that its at-large voting method for City Council elections effectively denies representation to Hispanics.  

Bill Brewer, who represented Benavidez, called the city’s defense claims “silly” and pointed out that they were ignoring data, including expert reports identifying ways to draw majority-Hispanic single-member districts. 

“Notice Irving doesn’t defend its case by pretending that the system is fair or it’s time for a change hasn’t come,” Brewer said.  

The article noted that Irving’s mayor and eight council members were white, even though white residents only comprised about 35.6 percent of the city’s population, while Hispanic made up about 40.6 percent of the population.