Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board member Oscar de la Torre will take the stand this week in the voting rights trial challenging Santa Monica’s election system. Lawyers for the City of Santa Monica plan to accuse de la Torre of throwing his 2016 campaign for City Council to win the case and force the city to move to district-based elections, according to court documents filed by Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, LLP, the law firm representing the City.

In an email to the Daily Press, City of Santa Monica Chief Communications Officer said, “The City has had a long and engaging relationship with at-large school board member Oscar de la Torre, which it hopes will continue after trial.”

De la Torre’s wife, Maria Loya, and the Pico Neighborhood Association, have sued the city over its at-large election system, saying it discriminates against Latino voters. Loya ran for City Council in 2004, losing the at-large election but won the most votes in the Pico Neighborhood.

Read More: http://www.smdp.com/de-la-torre-to-take-the-stand-in-voting-rights-trial/168174