Help the state draw map out of gridlock - NEW LAW GIVES CITIZENS POWER PREVIOUSLY HELD BY THE FAT CATS

The Sacramento Bee
December 16, 2009

After watching elected leaders take wrong turns endlessly in recent years, Californians now have a chance to draw a new political road map for their state.

Citizens have a chance to participate in a commission that will redraw the state's 120 legislative and four Board of Equalization districts.

State Auditor Elaine Howle began accepting applications Tuesday for the 14-member panel, which was mandated by Proposition 11 in 2008. The individuals who will ultimately fill those slots will be in a position to help end a key source of the gridlock that has crippled state government.

In California , as in most states, legislative districts have been drawn up by the Legislature. The last redistricting took place early this decade. Its prime goal was to keep incumbents of both parties in their seats for as long as they can legally stay in them. In contrast to pretty much every other challenge it has faced recently, the Legislature performed this task well. Seats change parties about as often as it snows in Sacramento .

This leads to obvious problems. Most observers believe that making legislative seats noncompetitive fills them with politicians drawn from each party's more partisan wings. As recent events illustrate, that kills the kind of cooperation needed to solve the state's immense woes.

The five Democrats, five Republicans, and four nonpartisan or minor-party members who will ultimately serve on the commission will be trying to create a very different political reality. Fat cats need not apply. Applicants are disqualified if they, or family members, have donated $2,000 to any candidate in any of the past 10 years. You're also disqualified if you were a lobbyist or ran for state or federal office in that time.

Mainly, what's needed are folks who are intelligent, hard-working and committed -- as much as anyone can be -- to what Howle calls "the ability to be impartial."

If you are such a citizen, get more information at a Web site with a catchy name -- www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov.

Memo: EDITORIALS / Views of the editorial board

Edition: MET CHASE
Section: EDITORIALS
Page: A20
Index Terms: EDITORIAL
Record Number: SAC_0405275821
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