A court recently ruled that Fayette County’s at-large voting system violates the federal Voting Rights Act, but Gainesville’s attorney maintains the city’s system is legal.
The U.S. District Court agreed with the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP, the Fayette County NAACP and African-American registered voters that the voting system discriminated against minorities.
Members of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials have fought with the city of Gainesville over its at-large system, saying it violates federal law by diluting the votes of residents in city districts with majority Hispanic populations.
The council members and the city attorney in the dispute, Robert Brinson, have said the at-large system provides good and equitable representation of all residents by allowing all voters to choose a representative for each ward.
“We believe we’re in compliance,” Brinson said in a voicemail message to The Times.
In a May 22 letter to Brinson and City Attorney Bubba Palmour, GALEO attorney Keegan Federal said media reports have estimated Fayette spent $300,000 defending the lawsuit and could be liable for another $300,000 in attorney fees and court costs. Gainesville has paid Brinson more than $19,600 in attorney fees so far, according to the city’s finance department.
via Fayette voting rights case could have implications for Gainesville.
Comments ( 0 )