City of Soledad take next steps towards new district map and district-based elections

SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION-TV)- The City of Soledad is one step closer to moving towards district-based elections.
On Wednesday night, city council presented a new ordinance with a new district map.

With this transition, voters in Soledad will still maintain the ability to vote for mayor directly in addition to their district’s council member.
Wednesday night's meeting brought forward a first reading of that ordinance, with it scheduled to be brought up again at their next meeting on May 15.

Soledad City Manager Megan Hunter says they would need to adopt it by late May in order for it to take effect for the November 2024 election.

The local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, has previously threatened legal action if the city doesn’t transition to district-based elections.

READ MORE: Soledad City Council votes to let voters decide fate of District Elections ordinance

Back in March, Soledad voters rejected Measure P. That would have put in place a five-district map and have the role of mayor rotate between council members.