Board of Trustees Approve New Division Map
A new map that redefines voting areas for the College of the Desert Board of Trustees was approved on Thursday, February 17, 2022, concluding a five-month public process to adjust division boundaries.
The Board adopted map option 1 in response to the 2020 Census, which showed that population changes over time caused some trustee areas to become larger than others. The new boundaries help ensure roughly equal distribution of people in each district.
“This was a lengthy process but one that is well worth it to make sure we comply with the Voting Rights Act,” said Board Chair Rubén AríAztlán Pérez. “We are committed to upholding equity and fairness in the voting and this process helps us achieve that goal.”
The Board held a public hearing and consulted with a five-member Citizens’ Advisory Oversight Committee, which worked with a demographer, District staff and legal counsel to develop map options. Earlier this month, the Committee selected two map options for the Board to consider.
The Board considered committee members’ feedback and discussion before adopting map option 1, which will be sent to Riverside County. Boundary adjustments will take effect with the November 8, 2022, District election, and will be used until the next Census.
Map option 1 leaves areas 1, 4 and 5 unchanged and moves about 4,000 people from Trustee Area 2 into Trustee Area 3. Trustee Areas 2 and 3 are on the same election cycle so moving between the two does not affect when a person gets to vote. Option 1 maintains Trustee Area 1 as a majority/minority Hispanic voting district.
“Fair and equal representation at the Board level allows College of the Desert to carry out its mission of providing outstanding education programs and services,” said Superintendent/President Martha Garcia, Ed.D.
Additional information is available online at https://dccdredistricting.org/ and collegeofthedesert.edu.
