| Los Angeles's at-large City Council district | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created | 1850, 1909 |
| Eliminated | 1870, 1925 |
Los Angeles's at-large City Council district was the only district in the Los Angeles Common Council, later the Los Angeles City Council, from 1850 to 1870 and from 1909 to 1925. It elected members at-large – seven from 1850 to 1867, ten from 1867 to 1870, and nine from 1909 to 1925. The district was replaced by the nine wards in 1889 and later the current fifteen districts in 1925.[1] In 2023, a reintroduction of an at-large district was brought up due to scandals in the Los Angeles City Council in attempts to reform the district system.[2][3]
History edit
Original creation of district (1850–1870) edit
The district was created in 1850 to serve the city of Los Angeles grew from a remote town of 5,000 residents to a city of 15,000 residents.[4] Between its creation in 1850 to 1858, the council had 7 seats and for two years after had 10 seats drawn by lots.[5] In 1870, it was replaced by a ward system that elected four, later three, members in the various wards.[6] In 1857, the officials that were elected on May 6 were deposed and the officials from the previous year were reinstated, though they never took office.[7] At that time, the city was four square Spanish leagues at its incorporation, and grew to include Highland Park, Garvanza, and the University tract after annexing them. In 1870, the Council became elected through a ward system, which made the district obsolete.
New charter and recreation (1909–1925) edit
In 1909, the district was recreated after voters supported the Direct Municipal Primary law and approved a new city charter.[8][9] In the first election, candidates were labeled as part of the Good Government Organization, created by political boss Meyer Lissner, or part of the "political machine" with S. P. Yoke, as the city had installed a new nonpartisan election system.[10][11] In 1923, candidates were either a part of the Municipal Conference, also organized by Lissner, the People's Campaign Committee, the Socialist Party of America, or independent.[12] By that time, Los Angeles had grown to include the Los Angeles Harbor Region, Hollywood and San Fernando Valley. In 1925, the district became obsolete after the establishment of 15 council districts in the new City Council following a court ruling.[1][13] Some of the members, Ralph Luther Criswell, Robert M. Allan, Robert Stewart Sparks, and Boyle Workman, would go on to serve in the City Council after the 1925 charter.
Attempts at district reform (2023–present) edit
After a series of scandals and indictments in the city council, conversations about expanding the City Council, including re-instating at-large districts, rose from the scandals. In 2023, the L.A. Governance Reform Project, an independent group formed for reform proposals in the City Council, reccomended that the City Council expand from the 15 members in 15 districts to 25 members in 21 districts with an additional 4 members elected at-large.[14] As of February 2024, there have not been any implementations of this system.
References edit
- ^ a b Tat, Linh (April 21, 2023). "Do the 15 Los Angeles city councilmembers wield too much power?". Los Angeles Daily News.
- ^ "Academics seek sweeping reform of LA City Council governance due to corruption". Los Angeles Daily News. June 15, 2023.
- ^ Grey, M. Nolan (April 26, 2023). "Small-Minded, Corrupt, and Exclusionary". City Journal.
- ^ Spitzzeri, Paul R. Judge Lynch in Session: Popular Justice in Los Angeles, 1850-1875. Vol. 87. University of California Press. p. 83-122.
- ^ Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, 1868-1869 section, page 11
- ^ "Gerrymandering by Number: The Los Angeles City Council". Atlas After Dark.
- ^ Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, 1867-1868 section, page 1, second iteration
- ^ "MEET ON DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE PLAN". Los Angeles Herald. April 6, 1918.
- ^ Stevens, Mark H. The Road to Reform: Los Angeles' Municipal Elections of 1909: Part II. Vol. 86. University of California Press. p. 325–368.
- ^ Los Angeles Herald, Volume 37, Number 69, 9 December 1909 — "Vote for Councilmen"
- ^ "LOS ANGELES: STRUCTURE OF A CITY GOVERNMENT" (PDF). League of Women Voters.
- ^ Stevens, Mark H. The Los Angeles Municipal Conference of 1913: Stemming the Neo-Conservative Tide. Vol. 85. University of California Press. p. 29–32.
- ^ Vankin, Jonathan (June 7, 2021). "District vs. At-Large Races: The Final Frontier of Voting Rights". California Local.
- ^ Wick, Julia (June 15, 2023). "Independent reform group recommends expanding L.A. City Council to 25 members". Los Angeles Times.