It's worthwhile to take time with Legislature redistricting

Associated Press

Tuesday, January 18, 2009

The first election under a reformed system of drawing legislative districts in California won't be held until 2012.

It's too bad the system can't be changed in time for the 2010 election, so we could start to make legislative seats more competitive and presumably get rid of some legislators who are unwilling and unable to make decisions.

But the changes voters approved in November under Proposition 11 are complex and they will need time to be implemented. Californians will see the process unfold in the next month with public meetings across the state. Unfortunately, none of them is scheduled in the Modesto area, but people are still able to submit written comments. This is a preliminary round of meetings scheduled by the state auditor's office, which is overseeing the process. The formal application process for the redistricting commission will begin no later than Jan. 1, 2010.

Proposition 11 removed the power of lawmakers to draw the lines of their own districts, limiting competition in the process. A 14-member citizens commission will draw districts after the 2010 census and in time for the legislative elections two years later.

This is how the commission will be selected:

A panel of three state auditors narrows applicants to 60 (20 Democrats, 20 Republicans and 20 voters who are either independents or minor-party members.) Legislative leaders can veto up to 24 off that list.

Then the chief auditor randomly picks eight commission members from the remainder (they must be three Democrats, three Republicans and two independents or minor-party members). The eight commissioners then pick six more from the pool (two more Democrats, two more Republicans and two independents or minor-party members).

Then the commission goes about its business of drawing district lines for the 80 Assembly seats and 40 Senate seats. They can't be gerrymandered to create safe Republican or Democratic seats.

Under the current system, districts are loaded with Republican or Democratic voters, making it virtually impossible for a member of the opposing party to realistically compete.

That also means the lawmakers can take extreme positions on issues, far outside of the political mainstream. The new system should result in more moderate lawmakers who are more willing to compromise on contentious issues, such as getting a balanced budget.

We believe that redistricting reform is a key structural change that must be made. But by itself, it is not enough. California needs to look at other possibilities, including returning to a part-time Legislature and limiting the length of the legislative session, with a provision for special sessions in the event of a major emergency. If lawmakers went home after the session and earned a living like the rest of the state's taxpayers, they might not get so far out of touch.

But redistricting reform is a good start to fixing the Legislature, and we're pleased it is getting under way.