Drawing new lines for voting districts

Re “The lines form here,” editorial, Dec. 6

In campaigning against redistricting reform last year, the legislative leadership promised meaningful changes to the way that political boundaries are drawn in California.

Proposals by Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are on the right path to remove lawmakers’ conflicts of interest in drawing their own districts.

Hopefully the legislative leadership will get behind something in 2007 and give more voters a choice in whether they opt to return incumbents to Sacramento or go with somebody else.

The current boundaries ensure that incumbents almost always get reelected regardless of their effectiveness and ability to legislate.

BRENDAN L. HUFFMAN

Sherman Oaks

The writer is president of the Valley Industry & Commerce Assn. in the San Fernando Valley.

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I have to laugh every time I read an article about redrawing voting districts in California.

It really isn’t that difficult. Give me a map of California broken down into cities and counties, show me the population in each, let me know how many districts you want and if you want them according to area or population, and I can establish new voting districts in less than an hour.

If you don’t trust me, give me the same information -- and two third-graders who can count to 10 -- and they can do it.

P.J. GENDELL

Beverly Hills