Clovis lawmaker unveils new plan for redistricting

Paper: Fresno Bee, The (CA)

Title: Clovis lawmaker unveils new plan for redistricting

Date: June 5, 2007

Add one more plan to the growing list of redistricting proposals -- this one by Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines.

The Clovis lawmaker unveiled a plan Monday that would put the power to draw political districts in the hands of 11 randomly selected state residents.

His plan brings the number of proposals to five, each one seeking to create an independent commission to draw boundaries that are now drawn by state lawmakers.

Previous attempts at stripping redistricting authority from the Legislature have failed, including a proposal last year that was scuttled by Democratic leaders. But observers say momentum is growing for change and that the importance of redistricting -- a topic that has traditionally excited only political wonks -- is starting to resonate with all voters.

Critics complain that the current arrangement allows legislators to draw districts that are safe for incumbents of each party, limiting political competition.

With only a little more than three months left in the legislative session, however, supporters say the clock is not on their side.

"The biggest obstacle to redistricting reform right now is time," said Dan Schnur, a GOP strategist and member of the Voices of Reform coalition. The bipartisan good-government group supports redistricting reform but has not endorsed a particular plan.

Villines billed his plan as the only one that will "end the conflict of interest of politicians determining their own district boundaries."

All of the plans on the table -- four by lawmakers and one proposed ballot initiative -- include an independent commission of some sort. The goal is to approve a plan to put before voters on the Feb. 5 ballot.

But deciding who sits on the commission has long been the sticking point.

A plan by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D- Los Angeles, would give the boundary-drawing power to the Little Hoover Commission, a watchdog public agency whose members are political appointees. Other plans call for retired judges to select members of a redistricting panel but allow legislative leaders to have some say in who is selected.

Villines' plan is contained in amendments to Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4, which he introduced in December.

Under the plan, officials from the state's 58 counties would randomly choose 1,000 registered voters, or 5% of registered voters in the county, whichever is less. The names would then be given to the state's secretary of state, who would randomly pick the final members of the redistricting panel, ensuring there are four Democrats, four Republicans and three independent voters.

Villines said the 11-member panel would reflect the state's geographic, gender and ethnic make-up. But it is not clear how that would be done. Villines gave one example: If the secretary of state, on the first selection, picked a black woman from Southern California, any subsequent pick that fit that same profile would be discarded.

The secretary of state would contact those selected to determine whether they are willing and able to serve. Commission members could not be current or former elected officials, candidates, lobbyists or government employees.

Fred Keeley, a former Democratic Assembly member from Santa Cruz and member of Voices of Reform, said the plan needs more protections to ensure the panel reflects the state's diversity.

"For any redistricting effort to pass constitutional muster, it will have to have an independent commission that is reflective of California's diversity," he said. "While I believe Mr. Villines shares that goal, more work needs to be done in [his plan] to accomplish that."

One concern, he said, is that the state's largest counties would be underrepresented. For instance, Tulare County, with 135,558 registered voters, and Los Angeles County, with nearly 4 million voters, each would have 1,000 names thrown into the hat.

A spokesman for Núñez said the random selection method would produce a commission that lacks expertise.

"Six months after the Legislature convened we're pleased that the Republican leader has finally put forth his ideas, as flawed as they are," said Richard Stapler.

Villines said the focus of his plan is to create more competitive districts.

In the past two elections, only one congressional seat -- and no state legislative seats -- has changed party hands. This has apparently displeased voters: nearly six in 10 residents think that having the governor and Legislature in charge of drawing districts is a bad idea, according to a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

But there are several potential roadblocks to a deal -- beyond deciding who should sit on the commission.

Núñez, for instance, is against combining redistricting changes with proposals to change term limits, Stapler said.

"Each subject should be looked at on its own merits," he said.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, on the other hand, supports a proposal by Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, that combines redistricting and term limits, as well as requiring lawmakers more quickly to report campaign contributions while the state budget is being negotiated.

There also is a difference of opinion on including congressional seats in redistricting. Perata opposes it, but Núñez is in favor. Villines' plan includes Congress and the Legislature.

But the drive to change term limits -- favored by Democrats -- could force a deal on redistricting, a Republican goal.

A term-limit measure being targeted for the Feb. 5 ballot would allow lawmakers to reduce the number of years state lawmakers can serve from 14 to 12. But it would allow lawmakers to serve 12 years in one house, up from six years in the Assembly and eight years in the Senate. The proposal also includes a provision that would allow current lawmakers -- including Perata and Núñez -- to serve longer than their current termed-out dates.

Gov. Schwarzenegger supports redistricting reform but has not endorsed any one particular plan. He has said, however, that he will support term limits changes only if redistricting reform also is considered.

The reporter can be reached at eschultz@fresnobee.com or (916) 326-5541.

Author: E.J. SchultzBee Capitol Bureau

Section: MAIN NEWS

Page: A1

Dateline: SACRAMENTO