The U.S. Justice Department wants a judge to declare that a Pennsylvania city's method of electing council members citywide instead of by districts has illegally diluted the political power of its growing Hispanic population, arguing in a lawsuit that Hazleton is violating the federal Voting Rights Act.
A complaint filed Tuesday in Scranton federal court claims the 鈥渁t-large鈥� system "results in Hispanic citizens not having an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice.鈥�
The Justice Department under outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden is seeking a court order that the city, the five-member City Council and Republican Mayor Jeff Cusat come up with a new system.
Cusat and City Council President Jim Perry issued a statement Wednesday saying the election method does allow Hispanic people an equal chance to participate.
鈥淭he current at-large system in the City of Hazleton gives equal voting rights to all citizens regardless of their race or gender,鈥� they said.
Hazleton's growing cohort of Hispanic voters has not turned out in sufficient numbers to get one of their own elected, Perry said in a phone interview Wednesday, noting there are Hispanic people serving on city boards and authorities.
鈥淭hey run and they don鈥檛 make it,鈥� said Perry, a Republican. 鈥淪o it just, to me, is you got to vote.鈥�
鈥淭he Hispanic population is a growing and important population" in Hazleton, U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam said in a news release. 鈥淭hose citizens should have the ability to choose candidates that represent their interests.鈥�
Hazleton鈥檚 30,000 residents are about two-thirds Hispanic, one third non-Hispanic white and less than 2% non-Hispanic Black, the lawsuit stated. The voting age population of 17,000 is about 53% non-Hispanic white, about 43% Hispanic and nearly 4% non-Hispanic black.
鈥淗azleton鈥檚 Hispanic community, including Spanish speakers who are limited-English-proficient, continue to suffer from the effects of discrimination in education, employment, housing and policing,鈥� the Justice Department argued.
No Hispanic candidate has ever been elected to the Hazleton City Council or appointed to fill a council vacancy, according to the lawsuit. It alleges that 鈥渞acially polarized voting patterns characterize鈥� council elections, with Hispanic candidates having difficulty raising funds, getting endorsements and being invited to panel discussions and other campaign events.
State Rep. Manny Guzman, a Democrat from Reading and vice chairperson of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus, said he thinks the lawsuit will improve the political power of Hazleton鈥檚 Hispanic residents.
鈥淪omething is going on in the mechanics of local government up there that鈥檚 obviously preventing Latinos from earning their rightful place at these tables and in these seats,鈥� Guzman said.
A separate filed a year ago by two Hispanic parents that is currently pending before the same judge, U.S. District Judge Karoline Mehalchick, alleges the at-large system of voting for members of the Hazleton Area School Board also has shut out Hispanic voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
The school district filed a response in November that said it has not violated the federal law or 鈥渄enied or abridged the right of anyone to vote on account of race or color.鈥�
Mark Scolforo, The Associated Press
