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Governor's Plan to Redraw the Political Map

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  • Governor's Plan to Redraw the Political Map

    Governor's Plan to Redraw the Political Map

    Drawing on more effective representation

    San Francisco Chronicle
    Thursday, February 10, 2005
    Page B-9

    By California State Senator Chuck Poochigian

    The once-a-decade redrawing of legislative districts has resurfaced
    now that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has set his sights on reforming
    the otherwise lackluster issue of redistricting. I join the governor
    and many of my colleagues in support of removing this responsibility
    from the Legislature and assigning it to an independent body, and I
    have co-authored an amendment to do so.

    Woven through virtually every poll in recent years gauging
    Californians' view of their Legislature is a broad thread of
    mistrust. The public at large is cynical of the Legislature's ability
    to function effectively, pass a balanced budget and focus on necessary,
    sensible legislation. Responsibly drawn legislative districts should
    help to improve both perception and reality regarding the political
    process.

    State and federal district maps were put in place with legislative
    approval in 2001. They effectively preserve legislative majorities in
    the Senate, Assembly and Congress and virtually assure re-election
    of nearly all incumbents. Although equally apportioned numerically,
    the maps are drawn by computers to divide the state's cities, counties
    and communities into a confusing labyrinth with a goal of establishing
    district lines with a partisan- voter base. This essentially protects
    a given incumbent or political party from competition in an effort
    to preserve the status quo.

    Apart from this obvious intent, the maps defy logic. For example,
    the 14th Senate District I represent encompasses all or parts of six
    counties. However, the lines carefully remove portions of Fresno and
    skirt around the more populous areas of Modesto, Manteca, Tracy and
    Stockton. The district overlaps portions of eight different Assembly
    districts and five congressional districts. This not only makes it
    more cumbersome to coordinate efforts as a regional delegation, but
    also confuses constituents and local government officials attempting
    to understand who represents their community and their interests.

    Fortunately, in my case, many of the issues and demographics of the
    current 14th Senate District are similar to those of the district which
    I served previously, so the transition has been smooth. Nevertheless,
    the overarching system of mapping legislative districts needs to
    be changed.

    Many believe the goal of reforming our state's redistricting process
    is to make elections fairer, or to skew elections toward one political
    party or another. The primary goal of redistricting should be to ensure
    that the voters have effective representation. Efficient government
    starts with citizens having a clear understanding of who represents
    them. Voters should choose their representatives; politicians should
    not choose their constituents.

    Independent redistricting systems similar to those being proposed
    are less subject to political influences and have worked well for
    California in the past. In 1992, after Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed the
    reapportionment plans submitted to him, a three-member committee of
    judges comprised of "special masters" was appointed to draft a new
    redistricting plan, in accordance with rational guidelines and with
    public input. Their plan was subsequently approved by the California
    Supreme Court, with only minor changes made necessary by prior court
    decisions.

    The new districts were coherent, consistent and served the state
    for nine years. Each Senate district was divided into two Assembly
    districts. The court affirmed that this "nesting" of districts made
    representation more "comprehensible to the electorate, and [simplified]
    the task of administering elections..."

    Under the current system, multiple legislators potentially competing
    for higher office in a given Senate or congressional district may
    be more prone to political infighting and posturing than to district
    service. Crowding numerous Assembly districts into one Senate district
    can result in incumbent conduct and decision-making that is motivated
    by a desire to obtain political advantage over a neighboring legislator
    rather than being focused on the interests of constituents. Nesting of
    districts reduces those tendencies, promoting discipline and greater
    emphasis on cooperative district representation. To the degree
    possible, nesting of districts should be deemed a priority.

    Assigning the duty of drawing legislative district lines to a panel of
    highly respected retired judges, as some of my colleagues and I have
    proposed, is a far better alternative than the current politically
    charged process. The ultimate goal of redistricting reform should be
    to ensure a more personal connection between the residents of every
    community and those elected to serve them.


    California State Senator Chuck Poochigian (Republican - Fresno), is
    a member of the Senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional
    Amendments Committee and co-author of a constitutional amendment on
    redistricting reform.

    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/02/10/EDGH0B7VOG1.DTL
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