Referendum challenges congressional lines; If measure passes, Thompson could land back in North Coast

Times-Standard (Eureka, CA) - Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Thadeus Greenson; 441-0509, tgreenson@times-standard.com

A statewide referendum is currently circulating that would put recently re-drawn California congressional district lines up for approval before the state's voters. 

There's also a chance that the referendum could land North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson -- who was drawn out of the coastal district by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission -- back representing Humboldt County, at least for a little while longer. 

Proposition 11, known as the Voters First Act, was narrowly passed by the California electorate in 2008 and for the first time took the power of redrawing congressional, legislative and Board of Equalization districts out of the hands of politicians and placed it in those of a 14-member citizen commission. Per law, the district lines have to be redrawn every 10 years to coincide with the U.S. Census. 

After holding dozens of meetings last month, the commission released its final redistricting maps -- maps that take Thompson's St. Helena home out of the coastal district and place it in the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District, which includes parts of Lake, Solano, Sonoma and Contra Costa Counties. 

Shortly after the maps were released, Thompson issued a statement voicing his intention to run in the new district if the maps hold up. 

However, the referendum put into circulation Friday by Julie Vandermost -- president of a southern California based environmental and regulatory consulting firm -- would put the new maps up to a vote of the people. 

The new congressional maps have met criticism from state Republicans, who said the maps unnecessarily fragment many communities of interest, especially in southern California. 

Proponents of the initiative need to gather 504,760 signatures of registered voters by November in order to qualify for the next statewide ballot, according to the California Secretary of State's office. If the referendum qualifies and voters reject the new boundaries, court-appointed officials would set interim boundaries to be used in the next statewide election. 

While Thompson was not immediately available for comment Monday, his statement released last month in response to the release of the congressional maps indicated that if he were forced out of the North Coast district, he would leave with a heavy heart. 

"I love the area, the people that make it great, and (my wife) and I have many friends we hold dear," he said at the time. "It is sad for me to lose this portion of my district."