LULAC FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF HOUSTON OVER AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL RACES

Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Houston is Texas’ Last Major City Where Elections Dilute Latino Community’s Voting Strength and Deny Latinos Fair Representation

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) filed a federal lawsuit Monday demanding the discontinuation of at-large city council elections in Houston. The case was filed in the United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. LULAC asks the court to grant injunctive relief to the city's more than one million Latinos through fair and open elections from the continued denial of their civil rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

"LULAC and Houstonians say basta after enduring a rigged system of good-ol' boys where big money donations come before the voters," says Domingo Garcia, LULAC national president. "Latinos make up 44.5% of the city's population, yet we have only one Latino out of 16 positions on a city council that controls a $5.7 billion annual budget. Our battle is against an outdated process that denies Latino and other Houston taxpayers and their families their lawful participation in deciding vital services, resources, jobs, and investments this city makes. This action by LULAC ensures that every Houston voter can and will have a voice in determining their future," adds Garcia.

Specifically, the lawsuit names four Houston plaintiffs who ask the court to discontinue at-large elections for five members of the council who run citywide. The lawsuit seeks to provide more equitable representation in the nation's 4th largest city. "Houston is the only major city left in Texas that lacks 100% single-member districts," says Ivan Sanchez, one of the plaintiffs. "LULAC believes we need to bring the city of Houston up to date and modernize it politically, like other major Texas communities," he adds. Another plaintiff is Anthony Rios, who states, "Every major city in Texas has abolished at-large city council seats because they are discriminatory. It is time that Houston joins the future by providing fair representation to all of its citizens."

Sergio Lira, Houston LULAC's redistricting chair, states that at-large elections have historically favored the status quo and demographically diluted Latino voting strength. "Having just one Latino on the city council is an outcry," states Lira. "We need more equitable representation at a time when Latinos are building Houston with our labor, and our businesses are pumping in millions of tax dollars. Making this change is not a favor but a right we have earned. LULAC is here to claim that right and trusts that the federal court will agree," he says.

###

About LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.lulac.org