Fullertonians across the political spectrum have lost faith in the City Council’s three-person majority. The proceedings of the December 5 City Council meeting reinforced residents’ belief that ‘The Three’ (Jung, Dunlap, Whitaker) are engaging in discriminatory practices that do not represent their constituents nor the collaborative spirit of Fullerton. By the end of the meeting, Fullerton’s Latino majority districts were disenfranchised yet again.
District 5 is one of two majority Latino districts in Fullerton–the other being District 4–that are adjacent to each other in South Fullerton. The areas covered by these districts have historically lacked representation on the City Council. These Southern areas became racially concentrated via discriminatory policies and practices–including racial covenants in housing deeds – that resulted in the inequitable distribution of public goods and racially segregated neighborhoods. Fullerton adopted district elections in 2016 after lawsuits were filed alleging that Latino and Asian American voters were being disenfranchised by the at-large voting process for electing City Council representatives.
At the December 5 council meeting, there was a public outcry concerning the appointment of Fullerton’s next Mayor. Fullerton City Council policy and procedure (No. 226 in the Policy and Procedures Manual) provides a mayoral rotation in that the Mayor Pro Tem is automatically moved up to Mayor. Then, the most senior member who has not yet served is selected as Mayor Pro Tem. However, the Three have consistently violated this policy and have overlooked District 5’s Council Member, Dr. Ahmad Zahra, the council’s longest-serving member who has not served in those positions. Zahra, elected in 2018 and now in his second term, has served on the council two years longer than the next most eligible member but was skipped over as Mayor Pro Tem for the last three years (The Three voted Jung as Mayor and Whitaker as Mayor Pro Tem last year), unraveling years of efforts by previous city leaders to create a fair and non-political mayoral selection process.
Mayoral appointments are imbued with pride, symbolic power, and representation in a city with districts. The Mayor sets the meeting agendas with the City Manager and a vision for the community, prioritizing issues and projects during their term. The Mayor sits on boards and reports the information to the public to maintain transparency.
During public comments at the December 5 City Council meeting, people from every district of Fullerton, and residents of District 5 in particular, implored Council Members to follow their own rules and appoint District 5’s representative to be Fullerton’s next Mayor. In often passionate and personal terms, they explained why mayoral representation is important to District 5’s residents and pleaded with the council not to disenfranchise the district yet again.
Jan Flory, a former Mayor of Fullerton, urged the council to appoint District 5’s representative, Council Member Dr. Ahmad Zahra, as Mayor, saying that the council would be “Giving voice to a part of our city that has not been properly represented in the past.”
Gretchen Cox, a prominent Republican leader in the city, broke ‘party loyalty’ in the name of fairness and linked the consistent denial of District 5’s right to mayoral representation to a discriminatory pattern. “I’m here tonight on behalf of fairness…each person on this City Council was elected by their constituents, and each elected member is entitled to an opportunity to serve as Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor,” said Cox. “For some reason, several council members feel they are better qualified, superior, and more entitled to hold these positions than others. That’s known as discrimination, and it has no place in Fullerton. Some of you have held these positions more than once already. Denying others their rightful opportunity and breaking from long-established policy and practice, every district and every member of the council has a right not to be discriminated against. Give us a reason to feel that you deserve our respect and our votes again in future elections by giving Ahmad Zahra the respect he deserves.”
“District 5 needs respect, just like all other districts do. Sadly, I do not think that you are going to surprise us. But I hope that you guys respect the seats that you are holding. And that you can be reasonable to have humanity and, more than anything, to represent the whole city of Fullerton,” said Veronica Moran.
Egleth Nuncci, a community leader, said: “Ahmad Zahra has helped District 5 by empowering all its residents. He has helped our district by informing and educating them about policies and services where they can get help or volunteer their time to help lift their community. He has brought projects into an area where people lack a voice. We ask that you respect the rotation and allow Council Member Zahra to represent District 5 as the Mayor…You can make a difference and allow District 5 to have a Mayor for the first time.”
Despite Council Member Dr. Shana Charles nominating Zahra for Mayor and then for Mayor Pro Tem (the positions that policy dictated), The Three ignored her and the unanimous public comments, breaking the fair rotation for the third year in a row. In a much-decried move, they quickly nominated and selected Dunlap for Mayor (despite Whitaker being Mayor Pro Tem at the time of the vote) and outgoing Mayor Jung was selected as Mayor Pro Tem, again passing over District 5’s Zhara, thereby exercising their dominance on the City Council.
The speed at which Jung nominated Dunlap for Mayor, the lack of any discussion or reason for the breaking with tradition and policy, followed by the prepared remarks by the new Mayor and the presence of his family in the audience, gave the appearance that this was a deliberate decision to intentionally exclude Zahra and prevent District 5 from having mayoral power.
As a result, some in the community have raised questions about Brown Act violations, the California law mandating that Council Members speak to only one other Council Member on a topic that will be voted on. Concerns about violations were also raised by Council Member Charles during the vote. “By the Brown Act, I’m only able to talk to one person, and I have been in conversations with Council Member Dunlap.” Private discussions, including via emails or intermediaries, between more than two Council Members on a topic such as voting for Mayor could constitute a misdemeanor offense.
After the vote, the crowd booed and jeered in anger, disappointment, and disgust as the newly appointed Mayor, Nick Dunlap, shouted “ORDER, ORDER” in an authoritative tone. He then proceeded with his acceptance speech, “I would like to thank three very special people to me who came and saw what we endured. A lot of these comments and a lot of these attacks. They got to see what we deal with, you know, every other Tuesday night in here.”
There is a pattern of The Three systematically ignoring the voices and representation of South Fullerton, which was reflected in the only other agenda item of the night: reconsider using a previously awarded $1.78 million grant to create a trail in District 5 in South Fullerton Latino-majority community or return the grant money to the state agency. However, Whitaker, representing District 4, motioned to delay the discussion until January 16 because he felt there was no need to discuss the issue further.
The Three subsequently voted to shirk their responsibility to the public and postpone the discussion of the trail, thus delaying substantive conversation and community input yet again.
Over 25 attendees spoke unanimously against delaying the decision, imploring The Three to “do their job” and make the trail as planned. The Three followed their usual pattern of refusing discussion and not being transparent about their reasons, further alienating the public.
Despite measures to enhance fairness in government, such as district-based elections and a fair rotation policy to choose a Mayor, The Three continue to disenfranchise and ignore the Latino-majority neighborhoods in Fullerton.
About the Author:
Dr. Jody Agius Vallejo is an Associate Professor of Sociology and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. She is also associate director of USC’s Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. Dr. Agius Vallejo holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Agius Vallejo’s research concentrates on: immigrant integration, the Latino middle class, Latino business owners, Latino elites, race and ethnicity, wealth accumulation, and inequality and mobility mechanisms. Dr. Vallejo systematically addresses these issues with a methodological approach that combines the qualitative strengths of traditional sociological inquiry (e.g., in-depth interviews, participant observation, and ethnography) with demographic analysis of representative statistics from the U.S. Census.
Her book, Barrios to Burbs: The Making of the Mexican American Middle Class (Stanford University Press, 2012) examines the mechanisms—such as parental legal status, access to higher education, and business ownership—that expedite social mobility and integration into the middle class for Mexican Americans. The book also examines middle-class Mexican Americans’ racial/ethnic and class identities, financial and social obligations to kin, patterns of giving back to kin, and civic engagement.
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Categories: Community Voices, Local Government
Maybe Dr. Jody Agius Vallejo should try to find out what Zahra has done to alienate his colleagues. Districts don’t become Mayor. A person does.
“Maybe Dr. Jody Agius Vallejo should try to find out what Zahra has done to alienate his colleagues.”
Hilarious speculation.
District 5 is disenfranchised because they don’t like their representative? That they feel personally, uh, “alienated?”
Put on your big boy shirt and get over it!
Really, though, no. This as always is about politics and power, not personalities.
You, Jeff, Bushala/FFFF are selling it. Absolutely no one is buying it.
David, Dr.Vallejo is: A) a grown woman B) earned the title of “Doctor (PhD).”
Rather than waste time coming up with what Dr.Vallejo “should” do, YOU should focus on gathering actual evidence for your nonsense attacks on CMZahra…which you have yet to do. She’s a professor and doesn’t have time for your trolling nonsense.
And maybe what YOU should do is stop defaming decent coucilmembers who you know won’t hit back, the consistent trademark of the bully. It must make you feel important to do be the lackey of CMZahra but there may be better things you could do with your time.
P.S. I am happy to hit back.
It sounds like you’ve just proven the author’s point—that these city council members can’t get over whatever petty personal grievances they may have in order to do what’s best for the city and what’s right for its residents. Their job is to represent the residents of their districts, not use their positions to play out interpersonal drama that literally no one else cares about. What we care about is for them to engage in the work of governing our city with transparency and a small modicum of integrity.
Preach, Beatrice!
Extremely well said.
Beatrice, the council members are doing what is best for the city and what is right for the residents is by not having someone who lies/lied and is a criminal become Mayor of the city. Zahra has used the residents to play out his interpersonal drama by having them come out and comment and his fake tears on the dais.
Let me ask you. If Fullerton did not have districts, would it matter on the voting system?
Best for the City? Zahra was part of the incompetent team that has put Fullerton on the edge of bankruptcy with years of structural budget deficits. But who cares?
Zenger – hilarious – Jung/Whitaker/Dunlap are the three stooges responsible for the no-reason firing of our town’s competent city manager Ken Domer (who brought the city through the terrible covid downturn) AND THEN the three hire the incompetent, seriously unqualified Danley (friend of Nelson, Whitaker and probably you). That single dumb move cost the city over a quarter million. The three stooges current move to send back $1.78 million grant is another bad financial decision. Their ingrown toenail repeated votes for each other for mayor and mayor pro tem – not only dissing the voters of District 5 but also drawing public outrage from all parts of town – is yet another example of their collective incompetence. Really disgusting and sad.
Big surprise, professor at the university of spoiled children u$c does not appreciate her liberal party’s token rep.
I have no idea what this city council majority is so afraid of.
They are “afraid” (or rather opposed to) of: taking accountability for their actions, like adults.
…and they have kids?!
Zahra does not take accountability for anything, which is why he is always called out by Councilmember Jung.
He acts like a kid crying on the dais. Fake Cry!
In your words Bernard “SHAME ON YOU!” for bringing little kids involved with your comments.
HAHAHA Context, Jeff. Go troll elsewhere, please.
Go troll in Anaheim where you live Bernard!!
Jeff: Adults are talking… Go back to the :kiddie’s table: and troll over there.
You :CLEARLY: have NOT tuned in to any meetings if you think that’s the case.
Adults?! Where are the adults?!
Go troll in Anaheim where you actually live!!
Oh I’ve tuned into the meetings and watched you behave like a little kid throwing your tantrum and shaking.. your famous words “SHAME ON YOU!”
You can have all the degrees, write books all the books you want or be a teacher but you have no knowledge of living in District 5! I live in District 5 and I work to makes ends meet so until you actually have lived in District 5 and in my everyday shoes, I suggest you keep your opinion to yourself.
Have you ever lived in an area like District 5? Or grew up in a low income Latino community?
Outraged gatekeeping based on assumptions, playing the race card, while anonymous fake concern trolling in order to express outrage that someone might advocate on District 5 resident’s behalf.
You’re selling it, no one’s buying it.
This whole article is using the race card!!! Did you not read it?!?
Clearly you will go against anyone who speaks their feelings! Leave that resident alone.. I’m sure Zahra wouldn’t want you to bully a District 5 resident.
The OP was an attempt to bully the author out of expressing their opinion… nope, I’m happy with my comment.
:cackles:
@John: “I rike you… you make me raff.” – GungHo
Exactly what District 5 Resident was doing was expressing their opinion as well. You and everyone other Zahra person thinks that its being a bully when people are actually stating facts.
Advocate for District 5 when you have knowledge about it, not just an opinion.
I agree with District 5 Resident’s comment!
No one actually sees it that way. But keep squawkin.
Actually all these comments, public comments and opinion articles see it that way!!
So go kick rocks with your buddy Bernard!!
Do you have to live in a district to write about political dynamics in our city that are literally on record? All you have to do is have eyes.
When you are going to write about a Latino majority community and the unfairness, I would think you would need to have some type of knowledge about it or lived in that situation before which I am 100% sure the author has never lived or have knowledge of that type of community. Sure, she is a professor, doesnt make her knowledgeable about those communities.
@Jeff: Act your age and not your IQ. Again, take a breath…Now go back to the “Kiddies’Table” and troll over there with your other goons. Adults, who care about actual :FACTS:, are talking…
Bernard oh Bernard!!! when will you realize that your antics and bully does nothing!!
Take a breath before you start shaking and go back to Anaheim and troll over there.. I believe you have reached your no one cares comments quota!
Hey Jeff: …SQUIRREL!!!
hey Bernard! go kick rocks on your bike lane and trail!!!
This isn’t an opinion piece, but we know why you make this claim. Also, really odd comments to assume that Professor Vallejo isn’t knowledgeable enough to write this article that is reporting about political processes, deliberations, and patterns that are 100% public. Given your comments on every Observer article and your allegiances, you would discount anyone who wrote this article, regardless of who they are (in this case a literal research expert on these topics) and where they lived. If it was someone who lived in D5, you’d say that Zahra put them up to writing it and you would then attack and discount that person and say they were a plant. Your attempts to deflect from the patterns and realities the author identifies—purposeful mayoral disenfranchisement, ignoring residents of D5 and D4, possible Brown Act violations, inability of our council to govern–is transparent. We are getting tired of the acrimony and the cabal. We just want our council members to govern and pay attention to what the community wants.
This is the usual top-down cultivation of the untermensch plantation that makes middle class libs feel good about themselves. Of course it’s patronizing not to mention demeaning, really. “We’re going to give them something nice.”
Look, two concern troll alts pretending to be/care about anybody else. The Internet is full of wonders!
Sarcasm, chief. You really missed that.
Say, folks, have any of you ever asked Zahra to explain to his little cult how he and the DPOC set up a phony candidate in 2022 by the name of Tony Castro (never heard of before or since) to siphon Latino votes away from Oscar Valadez, a Latino who actually grew up in D5? Talk about Latino disenfranchisement!
And by the way, Zahra has never received even 50% of the D5 vote.
Say, folks, did you ever ask Jung to explain how he helped set up (and funded, along with Bushala, as well as Dunlap via a PAC) Oscar Valadez to run last-minute in District 5 to siphon votes away from Zahra when he realized Zahra was actually a really popular candidate? Then appointed Valadez to T&CC when he lost the election as a feeder track to an eventual council election?
Did you ever ask Jung how supposably set it up? Or are you going by what Zahra says. I am sure he is a really popular candidate when you spend about $42 per voter.
These idiots all get their information from Zahra, you can tell. Which is why it’s always self-serving for him and always prevarication.
I’ve actually never heard him talk about it. I learned about it when I ran into Valadez while he was canvassing and had a long talk with him.
Whatabout, whatabout. Even if Jung found a candidate he liked, so what?
Since you won’t address my point, “Amy,” I’ll assume you condone what Zahra and the DPOC did to disenfranchise real Latino voters by throwing in a FAKE candidate to siphon votes away from a real candidate.
You really have no moral scruples at all, do you.
Wait, I’m confused. Real talk, no snark. Castro ran in district 5. He was self-funded. Didn’t receive any contributions from anyone else. From his public election interviews (I attended almost every single one), he seemed like a guy who was passionate about certain things, he just lacked a bit of finesse. He seemed like someone who wanted to run for his own reason, he never once mentioned backing from anyone else (and was proud to make a point of this). Why would Zahra support his own competitor in the same race? Do you have a source on Zahra backing him?
Again, if you’re capable of respectful discussion without snark or name-calling, I would be interested in your response.
@Amy- Same team…(Re: Force-fed crazy pills 2x/month.)
If you’re waiting for an actual adult-conversation/discussion based on :FACTUAL: information (and sans snark) with these gaslighters/trolls, you’re gonna be waiting for a :LONG: time…a VERY long time.
I’d like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and am open to learning new things/being corrected if I’m wrong.
Entirely. However, :HOW: are you supposed to have a discussion and learn new things, when the other party refuses to accept facts, then gaslights/distracts with nonsense? A review of the comments will prove just that.
Oh Amy and Bernard !! You guys should actually be a couple.you have so many things in common.. . you both refuse to accept the facts of Zahra pathetic antics and believe that he has you two doing his dirty laundry like his puppets!!
A review of Amy and Bernard’s comments will clearly prove how misinformed you are and how you will believe Zahra shady antics!
The potential Brown Act violations tho.