Elk Grove City Council approves new district maps for 2022 elections
After an almost 90 minute hearing tonight, the Elk Grove City Council adopted a proposed map that creates new boundaries for the city’s four city council districts, starting with the 2022 election.
With their vote, the city council adopted Map 11, one of three district maps they selected for final consideration at the March 9 meeting. Aside from balancing population, the mayor and city council supported that configuration because all districts met at Highway 99 and Elk Grove Boulevard and shared a common boundary along the highway.
During public comment, many of the speakers urged the city council to adopt another map that was not one of the finalists. The so-called Map 23 made modifications to Map 12, which was a finalist, and attempted to unite a community of interest, the city’s Punjabi population.
Organized by the Jakara Movement, over a dozen speakers urged to move a portion of District 2 into District 3. During city council deliberations, Elk Grove City Clerk Jason Lindgren said that shift would result in a large group of voters moving into District 3 from District 2, and they would not have the opportunity to vote for a council member for six years.
“If we are going to make changes we are going to see it make effectual changes all around the city, and its going to take us away from other districting principles we have been bargaining on in this process,” Lindgren said.
Along with legal requirements, one of the city council’s principles was if voters are moved, they should switch between odd-numbered and even-numbered districts as they are on the same election cycles. This year voters in District 2 and 4 will vote for their council members.
Elk Grove Vice Mayor Darren Suen acknowledged the efforts of the Punjabi community but said he could not support their suggestions.
“If we only look at one community of this particular instance, this Map 23, have we analyzed every other interest, and we haven’t,” he said. “Would that be fair? I don’t think it would.”
While there was a consensus at the March 9 meeting for Map 11, City Councilmember Hume suggested minor changes to that configuration that would have moved portions of District 2 into District 4. Intentional or not, Hume’s suggestion would have placed former Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis, based on his current voter registration in District 4, which is his preference as he attempts a political comeback.
With the adopted map, Davis will remain in District 2, where he could run for city council. However, Davis’ ally, Sacramento-based Region Business, supports Felipe Martin in District 2.
The district maps will be in effect until 2030.
