Attorney Leo Terrell—who in July wrote Attorney General Eric Holder to asking him to become “an intervening party” to a lawsuit filed against the city of Los Angeles regarding the issue of voting rights violations involving the city’s 2011-2012 redistricting process—has now suggested he may depose a former deputy chief of staff to Councilman Jose Huizar.
Huizar, councilman of the city’s 14th District, was the main beneficiary of the prized downtown portion of the city that was stripped from Jan Perry’s 9th District during the redistricting. Another beneficiary was Councilman Herb Wesson, whose 10th District benefited from plucking up desirable portions of Councilman Bernard C. Parks’ 8th District.
Huizar’s former chief of staff, Francine Godoy, recently filed a sexual harassment suit against him. In a press release sent out to the media on Monday, Terrell said he believes Godoy may have beneficial information that may help his suit.
Terrell’s suit—Stanley Haveriland, et. Al. v. City of Los Angeles, et. al—was filed in March in the U.S. District Court in California’s Central District.
“We’re asking the court to get involved in redrawing the lines citywide,” Terrell said at a July press conference. “All we’re simply stating is that race should not be used as a factor in drawing lines. I’m representing residents of the 8th, 9th and 10th districts who believe they have been disenfranchised. Basically, I’m representing people of African American descent.”
“In addition to Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Herb Wesson, Huizar is widely considered a big winner in the redistricting process,” according to Terrell’s release. “By the time the dust settled and the lines were redrawn, Huizar had forced himself into most L.A.’s downtown area.”
Terrell’s suit specifically points the finger at Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Council President Herb Wesson.
“After reviewing the redistricting process, it is my firm belief that charges should be filed against Mayor Garcetti, Council President Wesson and other officials who nefariously influenced the drawing of boundary lines,” the attorney alleged at the July press conference.
