Florida: Hispanics will drop the dilution against Kissimmee
The Orlando Sentinel reports: Demographics have nullified the need for a class-action suit over city elections, those behind a federal complaint said Monday.
The suit alleging Hispanic voting power is diluted was filed in August, but attorneys for the four residents behind it asked a federal judge in Orlando for a voluntary dismissal earlier this month. The judge will rule on the motion at a later date.
"The lawsuit is unsustainable," said Armando Ramirez, one of the four residents behind the complaint. Because the number of registered Hispanic voters outnumbers white voters by about 900, he said that the suit "doesn't fall within federal guidelines. Instead of waiting for the judge to tell us that, we directed our attorneys to" seek the dismissal.
The four originally alleged that the "at-large" method of electing city commissioners dilutes the power of the Hispanic vote and violates a section of the Voting Rights Act. They sought to force Kissimmee to elect commissioners by district instead. -- Hispanics ask to drop Kissimmee vote suit - Orlando Sentinel : Osceola County News Hispanics ask to drop Kissimmee vote suit - Orlando Sentinel : Osceola County News