District election map selected by El Cerrito City Council at July 7 meeting

The El Cerrito City Council approved a map July 7 to be used to elect city council members by district beginning in November 2028. (See image) The map divides the city into five districts. The map chosen had been known as A2. 

The two city council members elected this November will be selected citywide, as has been done in the past. 

In 2028, residents in districts 1, 3, and 5, as shown on the map above, will elect their council members.

In 2030, districts 2 and 4 will elect their council members.

All terms are for four years.

The council was told that legally it could not consider where the incumbents live in dividing the city into districts. However, once a map was chosen and before the council determined which districts would have elections in 2028 and which in 2030, the district in which each council member lives was revealed. Once a map has been selected, it is legal for the council to try to line up the year each council member’s current term expires with the year in which their district has its first election.

Both Gabe Quinto and William Ktsanes live in District 1, Carolyn Wysinger lives in District 2, Rebecca Saltzman lives in District 3, none of the council members lives in District 4, and Lisa Motoyama lives in District 5. 

Council member	Term expires	District	First district election
William Ktsanes	2028	1	2028
Gabe Quinto	2026	1	2028
Carolyn Wysinger	2026	2	2030
Rebecca Saltzman	2028	3	2028
Lisa Motoyama	2028	5	2028

The schedule adopted by the council allows Ktsanes, Saltzman, and Motoyama to run for the new district seats when their current four-year terms expire in 2028. If Wysinger runs this year and wins, she will also be able to serve out that four-year term and then run for her district seat in 2030. 

The situation is most complicated for Quinto, who is up for reelection this year as well. If he wins this year, he’s entitled to serve out that at-large seat until 2030. Or he could decide to run for the District 1 term in 2028. If he runs and wins the  district seat in 2028, the at-large seat would be vacant and the council would have to decide whether to appoint someone or schedule a special election to serve those last two years. 

The move to district elections was prompted by a letter from a law firm representing an anonymous resident saying the city is in violation of the California Voting Rights Act. To limit its financial liability, the city needed to declare its intent to move to district elections within 45 days of receiving the letter in March, and has 90 days after that April 21 declaration to finish the process. 

See earlier articles for more information

District map selection expected July 7

More about district elections

Image: Map from Redistricting Partners with district numbers added based on July 7 council decision