The Southern Kern Unified Board of Trustees held its first public hearing on shifting from at‑large trustee elections to trustee‑area elections, a change driven by legal and financial risks under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA).

The hearing, introduced by special counsel Marguerite Leone and led by demographer Dr. Doug Johnson of National Demographics Corporation, explained that the process is intended to gather input on neighborhoods and communities of interest before any draft maps are drawn. "The first public hearing is meant to gather input on communities, neighborhoods, special areas in the district prior to drawing any plans," Leone said.

Dr. Johnson described the legal framework and why many jurisdictions have moved to district‑style elections. He said the CVRA simplifies the standard plaintiffs use to challenge at‑large systems to a primarily statistical test: if a protected group votes as a bloc and the group's preferred candidates do not win, a challenge is likely to succeed. "What happened in the California law is they eliminated two of those [federal tests], and so now it's simply a statistical test," Johnson said. He noted numerous local agencies have transitioned to avoid the high cost of litigation and settlements.

Johnson reviewed the statutory criteria that will guide map drawing: equal population using the 2020 census, compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, preserving communities of interest when possible, minimizing splits of cities or census‑designated places, following clear boundaries (major roads and natural features), and compactness where feasible. He emphasized the process will not use incumbency or political data to favor or disadvantage current officeholders.

Timeline and public process: Johnson said draft maps will be posted by Nov. 21, followed by two hearings in December to review initial drafts and collect feedback. The board is scheduled to select a preferred map on Jan. 14; that selection then goes to the County Committee on School District Organization, which holds the statutory authority to approve district boundary changes.

Demographic snapshot: Johnson provided a population overview for planning purposes, saying the district has about 22,000 residents, approximately 43% Latino and 38% White, with other groups making up the remainder. He said the demographic statistics inform but do not dictate where lines should be drawn.

What's next: The board solicited public input on communities of interest and said the district will work with the consultant to prepare draft maps and return them for additional hearings in December.