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This past week, HQH and Arcadia Voters' Rights Group (Petitioners) and the City of Arcadia entered into a Settlement Agreement ending a six-month legal battle involving 3 different lawsuits.
In LAWSUIT #1, Sho Tay was seeking to serve a 3rd consecutive term in violation of the City Charter's term limits. The Court had found in July that an appointment in lieu of an election was the same as an election and Sho Tay was not able to run this November.
In LAWSUIT #2, Petitioners challenged the appointment of Council Member Danielson. The Court found that the appointment of Danielson was legal.
In LAWSUIT #3, Petitioners had alleged that the map (Map 115) violated multiple redistricting rules and goals by combining two Asian-American majority districts (District 3 and District 4) and two City Council seats into only one seat in District 4.
The District Map preferred by Petitioners (Map 103) was a gerrymandered map meant to preserve a district (District 3) for Council Member Sho Tay.
Map 115 resulted in a historic THREE Asian-Americans being elected to Arcadia City Council. 4 Asian-Americans will be serving for the first time on Arcadia's City Council. In addition, Sharon Kwan D-2 and Eileen Wang D-3 are the first Asian-American women voted to Arcadia's City Council.
Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement:
- Petitioners will not appeal the Judge's decision confirming Council Member Danielson's appointment;
- Petitioners will dismiss the lawsuit challenging the District Map; and
- The City will not to pursue recovery of its court costs.
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