Bill Would Cast Judges as Political Cartographers

The once-a-decade job of drawing California’s political boundaries would be taken from self-interested lawmakers and given to a panel of retired judges under a bill introduced Friday with the backing of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Part of the governor’s aggressive reform package, the legislation would redraw the lines next year, accelerating a revamp of congressional and legislative boundaries that wouldn’t otherwise be done until new census data become available in 2011.

The proposed constitutional amendment by Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) would overhaul the current boundaries drafted by Democratic and Republican leaders in a 2001 gentlemen’s agreement to protect the status quo.

Districts under those lines tend to be so overwhelmingly Democratic or Republican that incumbents face little risk of losing. Only two legislative seats changed party hands in 2002. In the November election, not one of 153 districts switched parties.

“What kind of democracy is that?” said Schwarzenegger in his State of the State address earlier this month.

The Republican governor, who has been stymied by both liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans in the Legislature, has said the redrawing of districts would create more competition. More competition, said his advisors, could lead to the election of more moderate lawmakers.

Odds don’t favor the bill introduced Friday. It would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and thus the support of majority Democrats. Although Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) has said he is willing to discuss redistricting reform, some Democrats say they will resist any effort to redraw boundaries before the next census.

Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey), one of only two senators to vote against the current district boundaries, called it a mistake to rush a redrawing.

“Doing it mid-census sets a terrible precedent,” Bowen said, “because if you redistrict every time you think you have a political advantage, you’ll end up further politicizing the process.”

When Schwarzenegger asked lawmakers earlier this month to voluntarily give up the job of redistricting, he warned that if they refused, he would back a ballot initiative to do so.

Several other redistricting proposals have been filed with the attorney general, a first step to getting on the next statewide ballot. Schwarzenegger has not endorsed any, said Rob Stutzman, his communications director, but the governor is insistent that lines be drawn mid-decade.

The proposals include one by Ted Costa, a Sacramento anti-tax activist, which would put redistricting in the hands of retired judges chosen by a bipartisan panel of legislative leaders. Costa’s initiative also calls for redistricting in 2006. Unlike McCarthy’s bill, Costa’s initiative would give voters the final say over any plan drawn by the retired judges.

California Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg has also submitted an initiative similar to Costa’s, though it would not require a mid-decade redistricting.

And Jim Gonzalez, a Democratic lobbyist who represents unions, has submitted four versions of redistricting initiatives that stress the importance of maintaining minority voting power.

“We’re very concerned about the Costa proposal, which is very vague and appears to invite partisan mischief,” said John Thiella, a consultant to Jim Gonzales and Associates.

McCarthy said he supports Costa’s measure as a backup in case his bill fails.

“It’s a tough vote,” he said. “That’s why I’m working on the initiative at the same time.”

Because gathering the required number of voter signatures is so expensive, advocates said, not all of the initiatives are likely to make the ballot.

“We’re going to have to get $1.8 million someplace,” Costa said.