(November 23, 2010) Last week, California State Auditor Elaine M. Howle held a public drawing to select the names of the first eight commissioners to serve on California’s first Citizens Redistricting Commission.
The commission was established when voters approved the Proposition 11, the Voters First Act, redistricting reform initiative last November. The CalChamber-supported measure allows the citizens of California—rather than the legislators—to draw legislative districts, thereby eliminating the conflict of interest in the current system. This process makes California a national leader in redistricting reform.
Only one of 53 congressional seats and none of 120 legislative seats changed hands in the two statewide elections before passage of Proposition 11 two years ago.
As required by the Voters First Act, the auditor randomly selected three applicants from a sub-pool of registered Democrats, three applicants from a sub-pool of registered Republicans, and two from a sub-pool of applicants who are either Decline-to-State or belong to another party.
The commissioners were among the 36 eligible applicants who remained in the sub-pools after legislative leaders, as required by law, exercised their strikes and eliminated the names of 24 applicants from the pool of 60 of the most qualified applicants identified on September 23 by the Auditor’s Applicant Review Panel. The panel reviewed and evaluated the applicants based on criteria set forth by the Voters First Act, including relevant analytical skills, the ability to be impartial and a demonstrated appreciation for California’s diverse demographics and geography.
Commission Members
The applicants selected are:
- Cynthia Dai, Democrat, San Francisco County;
- Elaine Kuo, Democrat, Santa Clara County;
- Jeanne Raya, Democrat, Los Angeles County;
- Vincent Barabba, Republican, Santa Cruz County;
- Jodie Filkins Webber, Republican, Riverside County;
- Peter Yao, Republican, Los Angeles County;
- Stanley Forbes, Decline-to-State, Yolo County;
- Connie Galambos Malloy, Decline-to-State, Alameda County.
The eight commissioners are required to select the remaining six members of the 14-member commission. The first eight commissioners must select two applicants from each of the sub-pools. Before making those additional selections, the first eight members chosen will receive training on California’s diverse demographics and geography; the responsibilities of the commission as set forth in the Voters First Act; and the process for performing redistricting, including the use of computer software to draw district lines.
In total, the commission will include five Republicans, five Democrats and four members that are registered as Decline-to-State or with another party. The 14-member commission will redraw the lines for California's State Senate, Assembly and State Board of Equalization districts, as well as congressional districts, based on information gathered during the 2010 census. The commission must draw the districts in conformity with strict, non-partisan rules that will provide representation for all Californians.
Voter approval of Proposition 20, 61 percent to 39 percent, on November 2 gave the commission the additional authority to draw new boundaries for U.S. congressional districts in 2011.
More Information
For more information, visit the commission website at www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov.
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