At a special meeting scheduled for December 4, 2024, the Sonoma City Council will consider a fundamental change to the way in which city council elections are conducted.
At present all members of the City Council are elected using an “at large” system in which all voters within the City of Sonoma vote for every council member running for office. The top vote getters, usually two or three depending upon the number of seats up for election, then serve on the five-member council.
As noted in the staff report, “a city council can adopt an ordinance to change its method of election from an “at-large” system to a “by-district” system in which only the voters in that specific district elect a council member who resides within that district.”
In a city as small as Sonoma, the division into five districts will produce elections in which small segments of the total number of registered voters will select a council member. In recent elections, the number of candidates has been low. In the most recent election, both Jack Ding and Sandra Lowe had no opposition and retained their council seats automatically. Whether or not a “by-district” system will result in attracting more candidates is unknown.
This decision is largely due to the California Voting Right Act (CVRA). Staff notes, “The CVRA aims to prevent at-large election systems from diluting the votes of minority groups. Cities can face lawsuits if their at-large system is deemed to hinder the ability of minority communities to elect candidates of their choice. Switching to district-based elections can mitigate the risk of costly legal challenges.” However, the City of Sonoma has no neighborhoods comprised primarily of minority groups.
The threat of litigation and its expense appears to be a primary driver of the decision. “Many cities have switched to district-based elections after facing CVRA demand letters or lawsuits, often settling for significant sums. Transitioning proactively can save money and demonstrate a commitment to fair representation,” notes city staff in its report. To date, however, the city has not received any demand letter or been subject to a lawsuit pertaining to district elections.
The City Council is being asked to approve an expenditure not to exceed $50,000 from professional demographers to assist in the transition to By-District elections and has received three proposals. A series of public hearings would be held prior to the adoption of any new election methodology.
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