First Latina Candidates Elected To Yakima City Council

For the first time in city history, Latinos have been elected to Yakima's city council. The city is 41 percent Hispanic or Latino, but according to a federal judge, the city's former at-large elections system violated the civil rights act by "regularly suffocating" the influence of Latino voters.

A new city council election system, drafted by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, was adopted for this year's election. Latinas Dulce Gutierrez and Avina Gutierrez won seats on the council. A third Latina candidate, Carmen Mendez, is leading in a race that is still too close to call.

GUEST:

• Avina Gutierrez: City councilmember-elect in Yakima's 2nd district