Edward Aparis, a 12-year resident of Chula Vista and a community organizer for the Asian-American and Pacific Islander coalition, is delighted with the changes that have been made for all groups. Tino Martinez, a 36-year-old resident of Chula Vista who lives on the west side and is president of the Chula Vista Southwest Civic Association, is hopeful for the city's future. On election day, two white men, one Republican and one independent, replaced the Latina mayors of Chula Vista and National City, both Democrats. The Chula Vista City Council recently voted unanimously to divide the city into four new municipal districts.
This move was made to ensure that all citizens in Chula Vista are represented fairly in local government. According to Don Dumas, trustee of Southwestern College and U, McCann was able to get more people from across the city to vote for him because he had “that documented work for a long time in the city than his opponent”. Commissioner Bill Richter asked to revise a map showing where Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders live in Chula Vista, and he addressed his communities of interest, known as the APACE corridor. The Northeastern District includes Rancho Del Ray and data for many East Lake neighborhoods in Chula Vista. Zaneta Encarnación, a 10-year resident of Chula Vista who attended a public workshop on the east side of the city, spoke about the diversity of the community and emphasized the importance of having elected representatives who look like you.
Once the District Plan is fully implemented, those running for Council must reside in the district they wish to represent and residents will vote only for candidates from their respective districts. In Chula Vista, Republican Councilman John McCann is leading the unofficial statements of Democratic candidate and businessman Ammar Campa-Najjar. Jerome Torres, president of the Chula Vista District Commission, a seven-person group tasked with creating the boundaries of new districts, said that moving a dividing line even on one or two streets can dramatically affect the district and its voting-age population. The southwestern part of Chula Vista will now have someone from that community who knows what is going on from the beginning. On June 11th, the Chula Vista District Commission approved a recommended district plan which included boundaries that established new city council districts. The District Plan is an important step towards ensuring that all citizens in Chula Vista are represented fairly in local government.
It is essential that all residents are aware of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to voting in local elections. The district access centers located at public access terminals in all Chula Vista libraries provide information on the district distribution process. The recent changes made by the Chula Vista City Council have been met with enthusiasm by many residents. Edward Aparis expressed his delight with these changes while Tino Martinez expressed his hope for a brighter future for his city. The District Plan is an important step towards achieving fair representation in local government and ensuring that all citizens are aware of their rights when it comes to voting.
With this plan in place, residents can be sure that their voices will be heard.
