CA Redistricting Commission Needs You!
Written by Bob Schelen Thursday, 04 February 2010 14:16
What is Redistricting and Why Should Our Community Care?
Redistricting is the once-in-a- decade opportunity to redraw the State’s legislative districts. This single act may do more to influence the make-up of the Legislature and its agenda over the next 10 years than all of the elections during that period combined. Every single policy issue is affected by who is elected to the Legislature, and every single legislative election for the next decade is affected by redistricting.
Now, for myself, I am not sure if this is the method we should use to determine the size and geography of legislative districts. The argument is that the new way will somehow allow for more competitive districts and thus force those elected to work together to forge solutions to our myriad problems in California. It does not take into consideration the natural geographic groupings of people. I do not see how you make the Bay Area less Democratic or Orange County less Republican. But still, the argument goes, this is one of many approaches to reforms that will, perhaps, make California governable once again.
To that end, last year Proposition 11 passed and for the first time in California’s history, this critical task will not be performed by elected officials but by a new Citizens Redistricting Commission. Those communities that participate will have more power to shape the state than ever before; those that do not will allow others to decide who will represent them for the next decade.
What is the Citizens Redistricting Commission?
The newly formed 14-member Commission will consist of 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 4 individuals who are Independents or members of a third party. The goal is to create a commission that is representative of California’s diversity including racial, ethnic, geographic, economic, and gender characteristics. The Commission will be selected in 2010 and will do most of its work to redraw State Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization districts in 2011.
How Can Members of Our Community Apply?
Applicants must provide background information, answer four short essay questions about their qualifications and interest in serving, and gather three letters of recommendation. The top applicants will be asked to participate in interviews in the summer, and final selections will be announced in December 2010.
Applicants should know that serving on the Commission will not be a full-time job, but it will require a significant time commitment in 2011, especially between May and September. Members will receive $300 for each day they undertake redistricting business. No employer can terminate, punish, intimidate, coerce, retaliate against or threaten an employee for serving on the Commission or missing work for Commission business.
Additional information, as well as the online application can be found at: www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov.
What Types of People from Our Community Can Serve?
Ooriginally, the plan was that no one that had any experience in government or politics, at any level, would be able to sit on the panel. Those that set the guidelines, I believe the State Auditor’s office, realized this would be folly of the first level and would surely resort in reapportionment chaos.
The final qualifications are still somewhat limiting, but do allow for persons with some qualifications to be eligible for the Comission.
What are the Qualifications and Requirements to Serve?
A person must (1) have been registered continuously with the same political party for at least 5 years; and (2) have voted in 2 out of the last 3 state general elections.
Prior experience with redistricting, while beneficial, is not a requirement to be on the Commission.
Applicants who can demonstrate through their previous experience some or all of the following skills will have a much greater chance of being selected:
- Strong analytical and fact-gathering skills;
- An ability to read and understand technical information, such as statistics and maps;
- Familiarity with computers and software programs;
- Strong communication skills, an ability to work well in groups and participate in public hearings;
- An ability to understand legal standards;
- An understanding of California’s diverse demographics and geography; and,
- An ability to be impartial.
Who from Our Community Can’t Serve?
Staff or consultants (or immediate family members) to the Governor or any member of the Legislature, Congress, or State Board of Equalization, or anyone under contract with any of those governmental entities, cannot serve. In addition, an individual cannot serve who, in the last 10 years, has done any of the following:
- Run for or been elected to federal or state office;
- Been appointed to a board or commission by the Governor, a Legislator, or Member of Congress;
- Served as an officer, employee, or consultant of a political party or candidate campaign for state or federal office;
- Served as a member of a political party central committee;
- Been a registered lobbyist;
- Served as paid congressional, legislative, or Board of Equalization staff; or
- Contributed $2,000 or more to a candidate running for local, state, or congressional office.
Who from Our Community Should Be Encouraged to Apply?
It is important that individuals who apply for the Commission understand how important redistricting is to enhancing or diminishing the political power of individual communities. Potential commissioners need to understand that redistricting is not a simple process of drawing circles and squares. Redistricting is a nuanced process that requires time and attention to fairly balance the different interests of various communities.
Below are just some of the professions or experiences that might make one well qualified to serve:
- Community and labor organizers;
- Social activists;
- Local elected officials;
- Locally-appointed board and commission members;
- College professors and administrators;
- Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, accountants, and financial analysts;
- Information technology analysts and other computer experts;
- Demographers, journalists, and researchers; and
- State and local government employees who routinely work with the public or analyze technical or legal materials.
Individuals whose primary activities have been at the statewide level are much more likely to have disqualifying conflicts. Therefore, communities that encourage local community leaders to apply are more likely to be successful.
It is important to remember that the Commission must reflect the State’s diversity, including its racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity. Therefore, communities that encourage a diverse range of members to apply are also more likely to be successful. And it is not happening, as of today, the vast majority of applicants on white and male.
Finally, the Commission must consist of 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 4 individuals who have not registered with either party. Therefore, communities that can recruit strong candidates in all three groups and encourage them to apply are more likely to gain representation on the Commission.
As I said, at the beginning, I am skeptical of the process, however, it is clear that we need reforms at all levels of government to see if we can still effectively govern ourselves and what we were doing was clearly not working, so let’s give this a shot.
And if we do not participate, those of us that are concerned with the interests of making sure Davis and Yolo County are represented will be left out of the process. For the best of interests of California,
Check it out. Soon.
So the intent of the Citizens Redistricting Commission is to redraw CA's legislative jurisdictions, in an attempt to develop a more representative and competitive jurisdictional map. Wouldn't transitioning from a two-party system to proportional representation be more effective in achieving the long term goals, which the Commission will seek to accomplish in their efforts?
