California needs redistricting (Editorial)

Paper: Daily Breeze ( Torrance, CA)

Date: July 4, 2007

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California needs redistricting

Because the 37th Congressional District is overwhelmingly Democratic, Laura Richardson, who won the Democratic runoff election for the 37th District ("Seat's not cold, but the race is heating up," Thursday), "is all but certain to win the general election Aug. 21, which will create a vacancy in her 55th Assembly District seat." I wonder when California voters will wake up.

During the Democratic primary, the Democrats of the 37th Congressional District chose a new congresswoman who is virtually assured of election. This occurred without the participation of Republican voters who were disenfranchised. The same thing occurs in Republican dominated districts.

This happens because California's political parties control redistricting. Because they can, these parties gerrymander our state's voting districts to ensure that districts having a Democratic incumbent contain a supermajority of Democrats while districts having a Republican incumbent contain a supermajority of Republicans. Thus our sitting politicians create political districts where each incumbent is safe. By this process our "elected representatives" select which voters are allowed to vote on their election.

Remember this the next time you get a chance to vote on how Californiaredistricting occurs. Remember to choose a system in which our political parties don't control the process. If we remember to do this, one day we will elect representatives who work for us rather than for themselves.

- J. MICHAEL JEMIOLA

Redondo Beach

Section: OPINION

Page: 10A