Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark of Huntington Beach has issued a robust response to Attorney General Rob Bonta’s lawsuit regarding the city’s voter identification laws. The lawsuit, initiated by Bonta, targets Huntington Beach’s charter city status and its requirement for voters to show identification when casting their ballots.
Mayor Van Der Mark has characterized the lawsuit as a political move by Attorney General Bonta, indicating a personal vendetta against Huntington Beach, often referred to as Surf City. She highlighted that as a charter city with approval from Orange County, Huntington Beach has the legal authority to implement voter identification measures.
The mayor’s response comes in the wake of ongoing legal battles between Huntington Beach and the State of California, including a recent loss concerning affordable housing policies. Despite the fiscal strain these legal challenges impose, Mayor Van Der Mark is adamant about defending the city’s right to enact policies that reflect the will of its residents, emphasizing her role in representing the people’s interests over the state government’s agenda.
Van Der Mark pointed out that Huntington Beach voters had previously approved the voter identification requirement, framing the issue as a matter of local democracy versus state authority. She criticized Governor Newsom’s administration, accusing it of exceeding its jurisdiction and interfering in local governance matters.
One of the key points Mayor Van Der Mark addressed is the contention that voter identification laws are racially discriminatory and suppressive. She strongly refuted these claims, citing her own background of overcoming poverty to attain her current position as mayor, arguing that voter identification is not inherently racist and does not disproportionately impact underprivileged communities.
The mayor urged residents to pay attention to the actions of Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta, urging vigilance against what she perceives as governmental overreach and political maneuvering.
The response from Mayor Van Der Mark underscores the broader debate surrounding voter identification laws, with arguments focusing on issues of local autonomy, democratic representation, and concerns about discrimination and voter suppression.
