Zigzagging District Cited as Classic Case of Gerrymandering : Remap: In vetoing plan for Rep. Dreier’s district, governor alleges political motives.

A proposed congressional district that twists and turns its way from the San Gabriel Valley into Southeast Los Angeles County was cited by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson as an example of the type of gerrymandering that led him to veto redistricting plans sent to him by the Democratic-controlled state Legislature.

The district has been represented since 1980 by Republican David Dreier. It includes the San Gabriel Valley communities of Bradbury, Glendora, Claremont, Covina, Walnut, Pomona and La Verne--where Dreier resides--and also encompasses Whittier and La Mirada.

As redrawn under the Legislature’s proposal, the reconfigured district has a serpentine look. Most of predominantly Democratic Pomona would be excluded from it, but a narrow ribbon passing through that community would connect the Covina, La Verne and Claremont areas with Diamond Bar. The district then would continue to the west and south, ending on the outskirts of Cerritos.

The San Bernardino Freeway passes through the ribbon section of the district. Looking at the proposed map, Dan Schnur, Wilson’s deputy communications director, cracked that Dreier would be “one tractor-trailer truck accident away from having a divided district.”

In his veto message on Monday, Wilson asserted that the district was drawn “with the sole purpose of packing Republicans” into it.

Although that seemingly would ensure Dreier’s continued reelection, it also would have the effect of concentrating Democrats in other districts, thereby maximizing their strength.

A major problem with the Legislature’s redistricting plans, Wilson said, was that they sought to safeguard Democratic majorities in the state Assembly, state Senate and the California congressional delegation. The legislative maps, Wilson said, fall “so short of a fair and lawful redistricting plan that it cannot be considered a serious attempt to redistrict the state and must be summarily rejected.”

Wilson also criticized the Legislature for drawing political boundaries that sought to protect incumbents, regardless of their party.

Dreier’s district was one of a handful Wilson specifically identified as “misshapen” and “twisted.”

Within hours of receiving Wilson’s veto messages, both houses of the Legislature tried but failed to override the governor’s action. It is possible negotiations between legislative Democrats and Republicans will resume in hopes of drawing maps Wilson would approve, but many political observers expect that the courts will end up handling the redistricting process.

Although that would leave Dreier and other incumbents guessing about the ultimate shape of their district, the veteran congressman praised Wilson for his veto. A spokesman for Dreier said the congressman believed his fellow Republican “made the right decision” in rejecting the Legislature’s reapportionment proposals.

The spokesman, Brad Smith, called the district’s design “really goofy,” and “a good example” of what’s wrong with the Legislature’s redistricting effort. “Obviously, the plan was developed to cut out our Democrats,” Smith said.