Committee spreading word on redistricting plan in the districts

Adam Pollack
San Diego Examiner
April 25, 2011

The Redistricting Advisory Committee is in the middle of its public education campaign. At its last meeting in Chula Vista, on Wednesday the 20th, the committee laid out the redistricting process and goals.

Two citizens were on hand to give their comments.

Dividing up the county into five new districts that are equal in voting population was the main goal.

The county staff presentation covered the U.S. Constitution, Voting Rights Act and the California Elections Code that require the redistricting is done impartially. Listeners learned the three conditions for equal voting constituencies.

1. The area has a sufficiently large minority that will make up a majority in the new district.

2. The minority stands together as a single political group.

3. A majority block vote defeat's a minority candidate.

New population counts and demographics from the 2010 census were up for discussion. A description of the race and Hispanic origin in the districts that total above 3 million San Diegans was part of the presentation. Hispanic voters are now a majority of the population in district 1 and minorities large enough to make winning pluralities in districts 4 and 5.

The redistricting aim is zero variation in voting population.

Behind the scenes work on the new districts will continue to get attention at public meetings in the districts. Tonight's meeting for district 2 is at the La Mesa City Council Chambers. District 5 has its meeting on Wednesday, April 27 in the San Marcos council chambers. The last meeting will go on in district 3 in the Solana Beach council chamber on Thursday the 28th.

Citizens that attend will see the same presentation citizens saw in Chula Vista.

A planning commission hearing is scheduled for May 3. Citizens can come to five meetings at the County Administration Complex from May 9 to June 13.

Plans and suggestions proposed by citizens will not be passed over at any meeting.

As many as three districting plans will go to the Board by June 28.

To make sure all San Diegan have an opportunity to read about the plan developments, information posted on the redistricting website is now translated into Spanish and Filipino. Vietnamese translations are set to show up.

This is a Front Story Clip.

Caption: The Rediistricting Avisory Commttee is still telling the district citizens about the redistricting plan at public meetings.