Prop. 11 changed the redistricting paradigm

On behalf of Proposition 11-(Voters First Act) which passed in 2008, it changes the process by which the legislative and Board of Equalization districts lines are drawn. Now Californians can take matters in their own hands when it comes to drawing the new State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization. Californians are encouraged to apply as an applicant for the spot of a Commission Member. This is the first time ever that California citizens are given the opportunity to sit on the board.

"This is an exciting time in our state's history," said California State Auditor Elaine M. Howle. "This is the first commission of its kind in the United States, and we are ready to take this next step. We've already established regulations and laid the foundation for creating the 14-member commission."

For all those who apply the state Auditor will assess the applications and create a pool of 60 of the most qualified, then out of the 60 applicants 14 of the most qualified will be chosen. However out of the 14 commissioners chosen, five will be Democrats, five will be Republicans and the other four members will be from other parties or who have no political party affiliation. Once selected, the Commission will draw the new district lines in conformity with strict, non-partisan rules designed to create districts of reasonably equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians.

The Sentinel spoke with Howle during a one-on-one interview.

Sentinel: What specifically are you looking for in a commissioner and how are we able to help you do what you need to do to get more African Americans legislators on the commission?

Howle: We are interested in spreading the word throughout the community down in southern California and certainly in the African American communities and all communities. About the opportunity to serve on the commission, I strongly encourage people to visit the website, www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov to learn all about the commission and the opportunity to serve on the commission because this is really going to have major implications for our state because the citizens group will be re drawing the lines for the political districts for the state senate, state assembly and board of equalization district.

Sentinel: Aside from that, what else does a commissioner do, and what does the state auditor department do in general?

Howle: Well the state auditors office in general, normally we audit state agencies, we do audit work on behalf of the state legislator and certainly there are some mandates in statue that requires us for example to audit the state financial statements, but getting back to the commission, proposition eleven passed in November of 2008, and the voters decided that they wanted to be the ones who established where the district lines should be for again the senate, assembly and board of equalization district, so this is a unique opportunity. It's never been done before in California and in fact it will be the first time that it will be a citizens commission in the united states, so this is really a historic thing for our state and what we want is a really representative group of commissioners. There will be 14 individuals on the commission.

Sentinel: Now that the commission is going to be drawing the lines which impact the amount of senators and assembly men and legislators that we have, does this influence the census count?

Howle: Yes absolutely, the commission itself will be using the census information that's provided to it early in 2011, so the commission, our job is to get the commission established by the end of the calendar year, so by the end of 2010 we have to have this fourteen member established so they can commence their work in 2011 and they absolutely will be using census information that will come to them early in 2011 to help them decide how the district lines will be drawn.

Sentinel: Will the fourteen-member commission draw all the lines for the entire state?

Howle: For the entire state, for the state elected officials, state senate, state assembly and board of equalization, however congressional district will continue to be drawn by the legislators.

Sentinel: Is there any thing else that you would like the readers to know?

Howle: Yes, I really want people to know that we want a very diverse pool of applicants to select from so that this commission truly does reflect the diversity in our state and we want people to really get involved in the process. The application process is open to every registered California Voter who will have been continuously registered in California with the same political party, or with no political party, for the five years immediately prior to being appointed to the commission; and who has voted in at least two of the last three state wide general elections.

Applications are available on line at www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov. The application process closes February 12, 2010. For more Information, membership requirements and to apply to the Commission, please visitwww.WedrawTheLines.ca.gov or if you have any questions please call (866) 356-5217. You can also follow We Draw the Lines on Twitter@WeDraw The Lines and tag related tweets with #WeDrawTheLines.

Section: News
Page: A2
Record Number: 960479023
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