League gathering discusses Prop. 11

By Sara Stroud Piedmonter

October 2, 2008

About 20 women gathered on Constitution Day for a discussion of a proposition aimed at changing the way state election districts are drawn.

Focusing on Proposition 11, which will be on the Nov. 4 ballot, the League of Women Voters event on Sept. 17 featured Alameda league member and ardent proposition supporter Joanne McKray.

McKray was "a real moving force in getting Prop. 11 on the ballot," league member Susan Schroeder said.

While the League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that does not support any party or candidate, the group does take positions on issues after going through a study and consensus process. McKray touched upon the arguments of Proposition 11's opponents, but said she was not required to "constrain her comments."

Redistricting reform is something the league has been in favor of for a long time, though earlier attempts at drafting reform measures were flawed and did not ultimately garner league backing, president Lianne Campodonico said.

Every 10 years, following the census, boundaries for state and federal legislative districts and the Board of Equalization are redrawn by the state Legislature.

Allowing state legislators to draw districts means lawmakers get to choose their voters, McKray said, protecting their seats and making it especially tough to overthrow incumbents. The result: no accountability for legislators and partisan gridlock, McKray said, citing California's epic budget standoff.

If approved, Proposition 11 — referred to by supporters as the Voters First Act — would put redistricting in the hands of a 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four third-party or independent members. Any registered voter except lobbyists, political candidates or major campaign contributors is eligible to be a commissioner.

From the applicant pool, state auditors would select 60 candidates. State legislators would winnow the pack to 36 people. Then, eight commissioners would be selected randomly, and would, in turn, choose the final six members.

Displaying maps of convoluted voting districts that she said represented legislative gerrymandering, McKray said the commission would be tasked with creating geographically compact districts, after ensuring that federal mandates were followed.

Redistricting has been used to dilute the voting power of minority groups by separating them into different constituencies, McKray said. The commission would also be directed to keep together neighborhoods and "communities of interest."

The state Legislature would continue to draw U.S. congressional districts.

Opponents of Proposition 11, including the State Building and Construction Trades Council, California Federation of Teachers, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., say the overly complicated measure would give power to bureaucrats who will not be held accountable to the public.

Additionally, having 10 of the 14 commission slots filled by members of the two main parties will do nothing to eliminate partisan gridlock, according to opponents.

The League of Women Voters will hold an election forum to discuss issues and propositions in the upcoming election on Oct. 15. For more information visit www.lwvpiedmont.org.

Reach Sara Stroud at sarahope@gmail.com.