Public's input sought on redistricting

James Burger
The Bakersfield Californian
April 13, 2011

When voters created the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, they bought into the idea that taking control of drawing state Senate, Assembly and U.S. Congressional boundaries away from politicians was a good way to shake up government. 

Now it is time for them to take the next step in the process, say the people on that 14-member commission. 

Commissioner Michelle DiGuilio said they need to tell commissioners what new districts should look like and what communities need to be kept whole plus submit maps that will allow them to elect someone who will represent what they care about in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. 

"It is not our intent to make competitive districts," said commission Chairman Peter Yao. "It is our absolute intent to allow people to group together to make sure their voice is heard." 

It will be Kern County's turn to be heard 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Bakersfield City Hall. 

Big job 

When DiGuilio applied for her commission job, she, frankly, didn't expect to beat out some 30,000 other people for a position that would hijack her life, take her away from her husband and family as she travels to towns and cities across California. 

The Stockton stay-at-home mother -- and former nonprofit consultant -- took the job knowing she'd be let go in less than a year. 

"It's kind of like jury duty at the state level," she said. 

Human element 

Yao, a former Claremont city councilman, said the commission could be a powerful new tool to change government. 

Computers can draw equal population districts with ease, Yao said. 

But, DiGuilio said, if the public doesn't get involved, the districts will default to the status quo. 

There are people and groups that will push to keep things as they are, she said. People who don't like the status quo need to show up and tell the commission how they want things changed. 

Yao said commissioners won't know what is special about Kern County until people here define it for them. 

Commissioner Gabino Aguirre, a Santa Paula city council member and former high school principal, said that in the past, groups of people have been defined by their politics, ethnicity and socio-economic status, then divided up by people in power to protect those people's power. 

That's why, he said, the average citizen is pretty pessimistic about politics and their ability to influence it. 

"It doesn't work if we show up and nobody's there," Aguirre said. 

Map it 

DiGuilio said speakers will have only five minutes to speak their mind Thursday. She urged people to be prepared, focus and -- if possible -- have a map to show commissioners. 

"Even if the people are just coming in with a AAA map that they've drawn a line around," she said, "maps are ... better because (they have) a physical boundary." 

She also encouraged people to mail, email and call their concerns and ideas in to the commission. 

Yao said if the public will define their communities of interest and map it for the commission, the commission will try to protect those communities from being chopped up and diluted by political lines.