Divided Board of Supervisors OKs Redistrict Plan Opposed by Latinos

Over the objections of Supervisors John MacDonald and Susan Golding, the County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday adopted a reapportionment plan for the next decade that makes blacks, Latinos and Asians a combined majority of the population in two of the county’s five districts.

Boundaries of the five districts remained unchanged from the supervisors’ tentative approval of the plan Sept. 16, and Wednesday’s majority was made up of the same three supervisors--Brian Bilbray, Leon Williams and George Bailey.

MacDonald and Golding voted against the plan, complaining that the new districts unfairly divide some areas. MacDonald has complained bitterly that Carlsbad, now in his 5th District, will be split roughly in half between the 5th and 3rd districts under the new plan.

The reapportionment, required every 10 years after U.S. Census data updates county population statistics, already is the target of a federal court lawsuit filed by the Chicano Federation of San Diego County. The group wants the supervisors to draw a district where blacks, Latinos and Asians would constitute roughly 75% of the population.

Under the approved redistricting, however, blacks, Latinos and Asians would together hold small majorities in two districts, rather than a strong majority in one. In Bilbray’s South Bay 1st District, the white population would decline from the current 46.8% to 43.6%. In Williams’ southeastern San Diego 4th District, the white population would rise from 46.2% to 49.6%.