As redistricting efforts continue across the United States, local and state officials want to know how you define your community. The Humboldt County Redistricting Advisory Commission and the California Citizens Redistricting Commission will meet this week to discuss redrawing district lines to make sure California residents are represented equally.
Congressional district boundaries
Every 10 years, after the U.S. Census, California is tasked with redrawing the boundaries for its Congressional, state Senate, state Assembly and state Board of Equalization districts to ensure districts are balanced for changes in population.
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission was formed following the passage of the Voters First Act in 2008 which authorized the commission to draw new district lines. In 2010, the Congressional Voters First Act tacked on the responsibility of drawing Congressional districts as well.
The commission – made up of five Republicans, five Democrats and four individuals not affiliated with either of the two parties – must draw the district lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts that provide fair representation for all California residents.
“More than a decade ago, Californians voted to create a 14-member independent citizens redistricting commission to draw district lines for state representatives following the U.S. census and it’s so important that this commission hears from citizens, so I would encourage people to learn how they can participate in the process,” Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) told the Times-Standard.
North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) praised the commission for “taking the politics out of (redistricting).”
“While we are all on pins and needles waiting for the commission to release maps and finish their work, we have a clear set of rules that they operate by. Their meetings are open to the public, everything is transparent and I don’t expect any wild surprises,” Huffman told the Times-Standard Monday. “California is beyond gerrymandering. We have nonpolitical, independent redistricting and I think it’s a good thing. I think this is how every state should do it.”
For the first time in the state’s history, California is losing a Congressional seat. After redistricting, there will be 52 rather than 53 Congressional seats. Huffman said the seat would likely be carved out of Southern California where the population grew more slowly than the rest of the state.
“I think conventional wisdom is that that probably results in a redrawing of Southern California districts, that’s what a lot of the experts are telling us,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to have a tremendous effect on us in Northern and Central California.”
Although the commission has yet to release draft maps, Huffman encouraged his constituents to get involved in the redistricting process.
“I think it is important that local residents, elected officials, and community leaders give their feedback to the commission. That’s the only way they’re going to understand what Humboldt cares about and what kind of district the North Coast wants to have,” he said. “Ten years ago, the first time the commission did this, there was a debate about whether there should there be an east-west district that combines Humboldt with Shasta, Siskiyou and Modoc counties. The overwhelming consensus was that Humboldt didn’t have a lot in common with those places and that it made much more sense to combine with Trinity, Del Norte, Mendocino, Sonoma and all the way down to Marin.”
Each congressional district must comprise approximately 711,000 people so “it’s really math at the end of the day,” he added. “You can’t just draw lines on a map, that’s the challenge.”
Huffman noted that it is essential for politicians to remain hands-off during the redistricting process and leave line drawing to the commissioners.
“Most politicians are taking that approach because if it looks like you’re trying to meddle or manipulate that’s only going to confuse things and the commission would probably resent that,” he said. “I respect the work they do and I stay out of their business but I’m pretty confident that at the end of the day the new 2nd District will look a lot like my current one.”
To participate
What: California Citizens Redistricting Commission meeting
When: Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. or upon conclusion of business. Thursday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or upon conclusion of business. And Friday, Oct. 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: The meetings will be livestreamed at wedrawthelines.ca.org/meetings. Those unable to attend this week’s meetings can provide feedback online by visiting drawmycacommunity.org.
Supervisorial district boundaries
The Humboldt County Redistricting Advisory Commission will also meet Wednesday, Oct. 27 to review the second round of draft maps for the county’s supervisorial districts.
During the commission’s last discussion on Oct. 15, the community made three points abundantly clear: Eureka should remain “as whole as possible,” Blue Lake, Fieldbrook and Glendale should be considered a community of interest, and Southern Humboldt and Willow Creek should not be put in the same district.
Redistricting Partners representatives took the community’s feedback into account and shared two new draft maps last week.
To compensate for removing Willow Creek from the 1st District, Map A2 stretches the 1st District eastward into the 2nd District. It is unclear whether the second rendition of Map A modified the 3rd and 4th district lines in relation to Eureka.
Map C2, which most closely resembles the current division of districts, includes less of Eureka in the 3rd District compared to the first draft map and instead stretches the district south into the 2nd District.
The commission will review the new draft maps and provide feedback to Redistricting Partners this week.
To participate:
What: Humboldt County Redistricting Advisory Commission
When: Wednesday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m.
Where: The meeting will be livestreamed via Zoom at https://ift.tt/3jzCnhy.
More information can be found at humboldtgov.org/3106/Redistricting.
Isabella Vanderheiden can be reached at 707-441-0504.
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