New Lines Show O.C. Latinos’ Strength

In new boundary maps unveiled Wednesday, the state Assembly proposed increasing the number of Orange County districts from seven to nine, some of them reflecting the growing local clout of Latinos.

The new maps also pull Corona, Norco and part of western Riverside County into a formerly all-Orange County district--and put residents with differing transportation priorities under one representative.

In addition, the plan would push Buena Park, La Palma and parts of other Orange County cities into Los Angeles County-based Assembly districts.

The boundary changes, done every 10 years after the once-a-decade census, are required to divide the state’s population equally among 80 Assembly and 40 state Senate districts. They immediately drew fire from local leaders.

Buena Park City Councilwoman Patsy Marshall complained that her city and La Palma “have nothing in common” with other cities in the same district, “other than the fact we’re all in California.”

Under the plan, her city would be placed in the 56th District of Assemblywoman Sally M. Havice (D-Cerritos), who cannot seek reelection because of term limits and who has announced she will run for Congress.

Marshall said the majority of the district’s population would be based in Los Angeles County, diluting the voice of residents of the two Orange County cities. The reconfigured district would have a Democratic majority, but most of the county’s eight other districts remain solidly Republican.

Assemblyman Robert Pacheco (R-Walnut), whose 60th District now includes Whittier, would see his reach extended into Orange County’s northern area, picking up portions of Anaheim, La Habra, Orange, Villa Park and Yorba Linda.

“I’m happy to say that Orange County has a Latino Republican who’s going to be representing them,” he said. “It’s been a time when they’ve needed someone to step up to the plate in Orange County because of the influx of Latinos in that area.”

Fred Smoller, chairman of the political science department at Chapman University, said larger forces are at work than boundaries.

“There’s a theme here of growing Latino influence, and there’s simply larger issues here, such as a concerted effort by [President] Bush to have outreach to [Mexican President Vicente] Fox and dealing with immigration issues, and also Gaddi Vasquez’s recent nomination to head the Peace Corps,” he said. “These are good things.”

Nowhere has the redistricting ride been more topsy-turvy than in the 71st District of Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park). Early maps eliminated his district altogether. It was resurrected over the weekend by the Republican Caucus.

Now, the district would extend east over the Riverside County line to include nearly all of Norco, Corona and a portion of Riverside. The district’s survival was good news to Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who has declared his candidacy for Campbell’s district.

Assemblyman Ken Maddox (R-Garden Grove), whose 68th District was strengthened, said that, if elected, Spitzer will have a district that includes transportation opposites: “You have people in Rancho Santa Margarita who don’t want a roadway through their city and people in Corona who do.”

Maddox’s district moved south into Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

Spitzer, who spent Tuesday evening and much of Wednesday in Sacramento, said there’s a “golden opportunity” to solve the Riverside Freeway congestion with the boundary changes.

“We’re going to have to involve Riverside County and Orange County, and the discussions have always been Riverside County versus Orange County.”