HispanicBusiness

A group of Hispanic leaders pressed Orange County leaders Friday to settle a pending federal lawsuit which alleges that newly-drawn political borders have diluted Latino political power.

A group of Hispanic leaders pressed Orange County leaders Friday to settle a pending federal lawsuit that alleges newly drawn political borders have diluted Latino political power.

Puerto Rican Leadership Council President Carlos Guzman said elected county leaders should avoid a costly court battle and agree to create a district that contains a majority of voting-age Hispanics.

Guzman and other Latino leaders who gathered in front of the county's administration building said they would also launch a registration drive in the two county district's of 3 and 4, each of which are made up of about 40 percent voting-age Hispanics.

The New-York City-based LatinoJustice group sued Orange County in August, alleging that the redistricting process had diluted Latino voting strength. A trial is tentatively set for 2014.

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