Redistricting Plan Unveiled by Assembly

A bipartisan redistricting plan that protects current Assembly Democratic and Republican seats for the next decade was made public Wednesday and immediately drew criticism as a “missed opportunity” for minorities in California.

Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) announced the proposal and posted maps for public scrutiny on the Internet. He also defended it as fair and virtually immune to court challenge, historically an almost inevitable byproduct of redistricting.

“We have an exceptionally high degree of confidence that the Assembly plan would withstand a legal challenge on any constitutional or voting rights grounds,” Hertzberg said in an interview.

But he noted the proposal could be refined after public hearings next week. “It’s not complete,” Hertzberg said.

In redrawing political boundaries, state and federal law requires that minority communities be given the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice, provided they are concentrated in a particular geographic area and their populations are strong enough to meet guidelines of the U.S. Supreme Court.

But officials of two interest groups, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and California Latino Redistricting Coalition, charged that the plan falls short for minorities, particularly fast-growing Latino and Asian American communities.

“They could have done better,” said Alan Clayton, research director for the Latino redistricting coalition, who lamented that it represents “missed opportunities for the Asian, African American and Latino communities.”

But Clayton said he will not make a concrete judgment until the Assembly’s final plan is produced after the hearings Tuesday and Wednesday.

Amadis Velez of the legal defense fund, which offered its own plan to the Assembly map makers, gave the announced Assembly proposal a mixed critique after his preliminary analysis.

“We are a little bit disheartened that in some areas the full potential of the Latino vote is not realized,” Velez said. “However, the Assembly plan does go in the right direction in other areas of the state.”

Velez praised the inclusion of the Riverside County community of Coachilla in a district with nearby Imperial County, which would increase the political power of the Latino population there. However, he criticized the proposed 56th Assembly District now represented by Assemblywoman Sally Havice (D-Cerritos). He said those drawing the lines started off in the “right direction” to improve Latino clout, “but they just stopped short. It’s unfortunate.”

Assemblyman John Longville (D-Rialto), chairman of the Assembly Elections Committee, said the plan reflects the enormous changes in the state’s population in the last decade, particularly in inland areas.

In Los Angeles County, he said, Assembly districts that adjoin fast-growing San Bernardino County will be expanded eastward to reflect population increases in the Inland Empire. The shift would not result in fewer districts representing Los Angeles County, he said, but would alter them to take in more of western San Bernardino County.

Before it adjourns next month, the Legislature and Gov. Gray Davis must enact redistricting plans for the Assembly, state Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and the state Board of Equalization. The results, based on the 2000 census, will set political district lines for the next 10 years.

The Assembly map, which would preserve the lopsided status quo of 50 Democrats and 30 Republicans, was the first to be unveiled for public inspection.

The Senate proposal, also expected to protect the status quo of 26 Democrats and 14 Republicans, will be unveiled today or Friday, said President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco).

Map makers were uncertain when the proposed realignment of California seats in the House will be announced. Sources indicated that the nationally publicized troubles of Rep. Gary Condit (D-Ceres) have complicated the task.

As support for Condit evaporates in the aftermath of the disappearance of intern Chandra Levy, Democrats, including his longtime friend Gov. Davis, have sent coded signals that Condit should not seek reelection.

Hertzberg said he was unfamiliar with details of how the Condit seat in the conservative San Joaquin Valley might be rearranged. He indicated, however, that he favors making it a stronger Democratic district by thinning the ranks of Democrats in nearby safe districts.

Hertzberg stressed that the Assembly proposal reflects the efforts of Republicans and Democrats in what he termed a “great” demonstration of bipartisanship.

Assemblyman Bill Leonard (R-San Bernardino) agreed that partisanship was put aside in fashioning the plan. He predicted that there will be still be “some grumbling. But a lot of people will like it.”

Hertzberg noted that in crafting the lines, many requirements had to be incorporated besides the impact on minority communities: the need to avoid splitting cities, respecting “communities of interest” and prohibiting “gerrymanders” that grotesquely tailor a district’s configuration.

“We responded and made the appropriate shifts based on the population [changes] of the last 10 years,” he said. “We have respected the growing population, regardless of whether they are African American, Asian American or Latino.”