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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 immediately, so we could get rid of the state's inept Legislature as soon as possible.
But the changes voters approved in November under Proposition 11 are complex and they will need time to be implemented. Redistricting reform will make lawmakers more accountable to voters, and California will be a better state when the new system finally kicks in.
Californians will see the process unfold beginning this month with public meetings across the state. The first will be held Jan. 26 in Sacramento, and it will followed by a Feb. 9 hearing in San Diego, a Feb. 20 hearing in Fresno, a Feb. 23 hearing in Los Angeles and a Feb. 27 hearing in San Francisco.
Proposition 11 removed the power of lawmakers to draw the lines of their own districts, and limit 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 is 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 90 Assembly seats and 40 Senate seats. They can't be gerrymandered to create safe Republican or Democratic seats.
We believe that redistricting reform is a key structural change that must be made. The process begins next month.
The Fresno Bee
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