Euclid is more than 30 percent black. Yet, the city has never elected an African-American to City Council. Both the United States government and city officials agree on those facts. But that's where the accord ends.
U.S. Attorney Abel Gomez declined comment for this story, but a Justice Department trial brief summarizes the government's position: The city's 9-member, at-large/ward, council system hinders the black vote. So, the government has proposed breaking the current system - 4 ward council members, 4 at-large council members, and council president-into eight small wards. Too many at-large seats they argue have weakened the black vote. This, plan would boost the chances of candidates seeking office in the city.
But, Council-at-large member Fred Lisy says it's not race that's at issue, it's low voter turnout.
Fred Lisy: It's hard to get an African American candidate when we have such a poor turnout from the African-American community. In some precincts we've had turnout at point 4 percent. So that's four out of a thousand.
Still, the Justice Department maintains Euclid has racially polarized voting patterns. Hillary Taylor, the city's attorney, says in order to prove this, they must establish three preconditions. First, they must show that a minority group is sufficiently large and geographically compact to form a majority in a single member district or ward.
Hillary Taylor: It's designed so it's majority black. That's the first. The second is that blacks are cohesive to do that. That's their second prong. The third thing is that whites usually vote as a bloc to block black candidates.
If those conditions are met, the federal judge will also weigh specific examples of racial division in the city before deciding whether to order redistricting.
That is where city officials and attorneys are split. Over the last year, both parties attempted to change the at-large/ward system. The Justice Department contends any new districting plan should include at least two majority black wards by eliminating four at-large seats. City officials rejected the 8-ward plan and have also refused to admit any violation of the law, which is required to settle the federal lawsuit.
Councilman-at-large Lisy says the council does not feel they've done anything wrong. He says the Justice Department is using outmoded examples from the 1970s to justify racial strife in the city. That has him concerned about the impact of the case.
Hillary Taylor: When you have to go back that far to find very weak cases against the city. It concerns that we would be documenting in writing in a consent decree that we've done something wrong now. How would that affect the future of the city of Euclid.
The city's future has put City Council at odds with Mayor Bill Cervenik who is willing to settle. Cervenik is in favor of another proposal: A 6 ward, 2 at-large, and 1 council president system.
Bill Cervenik: They were able to come up with a very good form of government at 6, 2, and 1. It broke up the neighborhoods very nice. Real compact area. I personally don't think a whole lotta people in this community would mind the 6, 2, and 1.
Federal Court Judge Kathleen O'Malley will hear about the various district plans and possibly seek testimony from council members in district court today. The trial is expected to last at least two weeks.
Tasha Flournoy, 90.3.