In the ongoing undertaking to reshape the future elections of Gilroy, the city has moved to open up the process, creating public workshops for residents, and has opted to keep a mayor directly elected by Gilroyans.
“It doesn’t feel right workshopping when you’re above people, when you’re on the dais,” said Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo. “This wasn’t going to work just at the council meeting.”
The council voted to begin the districting process in late February. The move came after Gilroy received a letter threatening legal action under the California Voting Rights Act if the city did not move to district-based elections, where residents in different sectors of a city vote for a single city councilmember to represent their district.
No city has won a lawsuit against districting under the state election law, and some, including Santa Clara, have had to pay out millions in legal fees after attempting to fight redistricting.
Under the state voting law, the city can avoid those hefty legal fees by creating voting districts in a 90 day window – by May 27, for Gilroy – and hosting at least five public hearings.
At the first public hearing held on March 3, many noted that the original process did not allow citizens to ask questions of the city staff in real time. Most advocated for a forum where they could learn more and participate actively in the process.
“You have to maintain every voice that wants to participate,” said Gilroy resident Lorena Tariba, who asked for interpretation at the meetings. “Create a very full, inclusive process with these hearings.”
In response, the city council moved to host two workshops across the city at times that might be more accessible to the public.Several also urged staff to ensure anything from hearings to the software to create maps would be available in Spanish.
This Monday, the city council was tasked to decide between having six districts and a mayor elected by the whole city or seven districts, with a mayor selected from among the council. While there are cities who have mayors who are selected by their colleagues, such as Cupertino and Saratoga, that model gained little traction.
“If we have a mayor that is chosen by all of you, that mayor is not going to be beholden to the city as a whole,” said Gilroy resident Ron Kirkish. “Let that mayor be beholden at large to the city.”
The council voted 6-0, with Mayor Bozzo abstaining, to move forward with a mayor elected by the entire city, with the rest of the council voted in across six districts.
Workshops will take place on March 25 at South Valley Middle School at 7 PM and March 29 at Christopher High School at 9:30 AM. Spanish translation will be available. More information on the districting process, links to draw and suggest districts, and a form to submit public comment are available at cityofgilroy.org/districting.