Redistricting in San Bernardino and Riverside counties

Relative to the rest of California, the most dramatic population growth between 1980 and 1990 has been in the Inland Empire of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. As a result, the area will enjoy the greatest proportional growth in representation in Sacramento and Washington under redistricting plans adopted this week by the state Supreme Court. In effect, the two counties will have a net gain of two seats in the state Assembly, one in the state Senate and one-plus in California’s 52-member delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Some of the districts are shared with neighboring counties, as they were during the 1980s. In general, however, the court’s plan more closely follows county lines and respects cities and other geographic areas of common interest.

In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the expansion of seats gives incumbents a happier choice: Just where to run and which office to seek.

There could be as many as four open Assembly seats in the two counties--ones in which no incumbent is running. There is one open Senate seat, but two incumbent members of the Assembly may be facing each other in that Riverside-Imperial-San Diego county district.

Republicans enjoy a voter registration margin in several of the new districts, making this prime territory for GOP inroads into Democratic majorities, particularly in the Assembly and within the expanded, 52-member House delegation. In the Assembly:

* Assemblyman Gerald R. Eaves (D-Rialto) has decided to run for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, leaving the revised 62nd district as an open seat. Among those who have announced is Rialto Mayor John Longville, a Democrat. The district includes parts of the city of San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto and Fontana.

* Assemblyman Steve W. Clute (D-Riverside) is exploring the options of running for either the new 80th district, covering eastern Riverside County, or the 64th, in the western part of the county, Sacramento sources said. Should he run in the 80th, he might face Republican Assemblywoman Tricia Hunter of Bonita in San Diego County. If so, that might be the only contest of all 80 California Assembly seats where an incumbent Democrat would face an incumbent Republican in the November general election.

* Assemblyman Jim Brulte (R-Ontario) is expected to move to the north to run in the 63rd Assembly District, including Loma Linda, Upland and parts of the city of San Bernardino. It is considered a safe GOP seat.

* The new 61st district covering Ontario, shared with portions of Pomona in Los Angeles County, has strong minority population and is about evenly split between registered Republicans and Democrats. With no incumbent running, this is expected to draw a large and competitive group of candidates. Assembly Districts

Dist. No. Dem. Rep. Anglo Latino Black Asian Assem.34 39% 49% 75% 16% 6% 2% Assem.61 46% 45% 45% 42% 8% 5% Assem.62 57% 35% 43% 39% 13% 4% Assem.63 40% 51% 70% 18% 7% 5% Assem.64 47% 44% 62% 27% 7% 4% Assem.65 42% 48% 72% 17% 6% 3% Assem.66 37% 53% 73% 20% 3% 2% Assem.80 46% 43% 49% 46% 3% 2%

In the Senate:

* In spite of substantial redrawing of state Senate district lines, there is expected to be much less competition for districts than in the Assembly. The plan generally preserves seats of incumbents such as Ruben Ayala (D-Chino), Robert Presley (D-Riverside) and Bill Leonard (R-Big Bear). Only odd-numbered Senate seats are at stake in the 1992 elections, however, so neither Presley nor Ayala would have to run this year.

* Riverside County shares a new seat, the 37th, with all of Imperial County and eastern San Diego County. Assemblyman David G. Kelly (R-Hemet) is expected to seek this seat in the 1992 elections. A potential June primary opponent is Assemblywoman Carol Bentley (R-El Cajon). It should be a safe bet for the GOP in November.

* The northern portion of Leonard’s old 25th Senate District, extending up through the Owens Valley, becomes part of the new 17th, covering the Mojave Desert, including the Apple Valley, and the eastern Sierra region. Sen. Don Rogers (R-Bakersfield) plans to seek this seat.

Senate Districts

Dist. No. Dem. Rep. Anglo Latino Black Asian Sen.17 36% 53% 75% 16% 5% 3% Sen.31 41% 50% 71% 18% 7% 4% Sen.32 52% 39% 44% 40% 11% 5% Sen.36 42% 49% 67% 23% 5% 3% Sen.37 38% k50% 66% 28% 2% 4%

In the Congress: * The Inland Empire shares two new congressional districts, the 41st and 43rd, with Orange and San Diego counties. The 41st includes Upland, Montclair, Chino and part of Ontario in San Bernardino County. Former Assemblyman Charles Bader, a Republican, is among those expected to run in this district, which is 50%-40% Republican over Democrat in voter registration.

* The second open district, the 43rd, covers western Riverside County, including the city of Riverside, Corona, Lake Elsinor and part of the city of Perris. The registration is 47%-44% Republican.

* The 42nd, the new district of Rep. George Brown (D-Colton) is pushed northward into western San Bernardino County. Brown is expected to face San Bernardino County Supervisor Bob Hammock, a Republican, for the second consecutive election. Brown defeated Hammock by 53% to 47% in 1990. The registration would be 52% Democratic and 40% Republican, generally considered a toss-up or Republican-leaning district, but Brown supporters believe he can retain the seat.

* The remap plan creates a new desert-Owens Valley congressional district for Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands). The new 40th includes both the lowest and highest spots in the continental United States, Death Valley and Mt. Whitney. * The 44th congressional district is the territory of Rep. Al McCandless (R-La Quinta). Generally, McCandless lost western portions of Riverside County to the new 43rd district. His area now would run from Moreno Valley and Perris on the west to the Colorado River and the Arizona border. Congressional Districts

Dist. No. Dem. Rep. Anglo Latino Black Asian Cong.40 39% 50% 74% 16% 5% 3% Cong.41 40% 50% 52% 315 7% 10% Cong.42 52% 40% 51% 34% 11% 4% Cong.43 44% 47% 65% 25% 6% 4% Cong.44 44% 47% 64% 28% 5% 3% Cong.48 29% 58% 74% 17% 4% 4%

Assembly District 34 extends into eastern Kern County and all of Inyo County. Assembly District 61 also includes part of the city of Pomona in Los Angeles County. Assembly District 66 extends into northwestern San Diego County to northern Escondido. Assembly District 80 also includes all of Imperial County. Senate District 17 extends into northeastern Los Angeles, eastern Kern and all of Inyo counties. Senate District 32 also includes part of the city of Pomona in Los Angeles County. Senate District 36 extends south into San Diego County. Congressional District 40 extends north covering all of Inyo County. Senate District 37 also includes all of Imperial County and eastern San Diego County. Congressional District 41 extends into Los Angeles County, including Diamond Bar, Pomona and Rowland Heights and into northern Orange County , including Yorba Linda and portions of Brea and Anaheim. Congressional District 48 includes south Orange County and northern San Diego County. Sources: Race and ethnicity: California Supreme Court Special Masters for Reapportionment, Party registration: California Assembly District boundaries: Strategic Mapping Inc.