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Huntington Park Council launches process to consider district-based elections, sets public hearings
Summary
The Huntington Park City Council voted 4-1 Oct. 14 to hire a demographer and begin the public-hearing process to move from at-large to district-based council elections. Councilmember Karina Macias opposed taking the decision out of voters' hands; the council directed staff to schedule mandated community meetings and to contract a demographer.
Huntington Park — The City Council voted Oct. 14 to start a formal process to evaluate moving from at-large to district-based elections, approving a contract with a demographer and directing staff to schedule public hearings. The motion passed on a 4-1 roll call.
The council instructed staff to retain a demographer and begin the community outreach required under state law. City Manager Sergio explained that hiring National Demographics Corporation will allow the city to develop map options and host the legally required public meetings needed before any final action is taken.
Why it matters: District elections redraw how residents elect council members and can change the number of competitive local seats, potentially lowering the cost and scale of campaigns for neighborhood candidates. Supporters said the move could improve neighborhood representation; opponents urged direct voter approval first.
Councilmember Karina Macias said she opposed the council-led path and argued the choice should be decided by voters. “I think it should be the community that decides whether or not we go to districts,” Macias said, urging that a referendum be placed on the ballot instead of the council adopting districts through the statutory process.
Mayor Arturo Flores and other council members said the vote only launches a public process and does not finalize district boundaries. "This is a process," Flores said, noting the city will hold mandated hearings and produce map options for community feedback before the council makes any binding decision.
What happens next: Staff will schedule a series of public hearings, work with the demographer to produce draft maps, and publish outreach dates. The council will receive public input and an analysis of map options before any ordinance or final map is adopted.
The vote: Roll-call recorded Karina Macias voting no; Council members Martis and Sanabria, Vice Mayor Martinez and Mayor Flores voted yes.
