Redistricting plan on ballot
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A4


An initiative to change how California draws its district boundaries qualified Tuesday for the November ballot after receiving heavy fundraising support from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this year.

The proposal, also backed by so-called good-government groups, would establish a 14-member commission to draw districts for the state Legislature and Board of Equalization. State lawmakers now have the power to create their own districts after each decennial census. The plan would still allow the lawmakers to draw congressional districts.

This marks the second ballot go-around for the Republican governor, who failed to persuade voters to approve a redistricting overhaul during the 2005 special election.

Schwarzenegger has now teamed up with groups such as AARP and California Common Cause. They argue that political districts created by an independent commission would make races more competitive and possibly lead to more moderate representation in Sacramento.

The redistricting measure is the 11th placed on the fall ballot.

– Bee Capitol Bureau staff