Redistricting!

Posted on 01-05-2010

Redistricting: Your Chance to Make a Difference!

According to the U.S. and California Constitutions, every decade, after completion of the federal census, California is required to redraw all of its Congressional, legislative and Board of Equalization district lines to reflect changes in the population or migration of people from one part of the state to another. In the past, the wolf has been in charge of the chicken coop – state legislators drew their own districts and those of all the other offices including Congressional districts, but when voters passed Proposition 11 (the Voters FIRST Act) in the November 2008 general election, that responsibility was taken from the legislature and given to a new Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of common citizens.

Gun Owners of California encourages all of its members to apply with the California State Auditor's office to be a member of the Commission if they meet the qualifications.

If you or a member of your immediate family has done any of the following, then you are not qualified to be a member of the Commission:

•  Been appointed to, been elected to, or been a candidate for federal or state office.

•  Served as an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a political party or of the campaign committee of a candidate for elective federal or state office.

•  Served as an elected or appointed member of a political party central committee.

•  Been a registered federal, state, or local lobbyist.

•  Served as paid congressional, legislative, or Board of Equalization staff.

•  Contributed two thousand dollars ($2,000) or more to any congressional, state, or local candidate for elective public office in any year.

According to the new law as stated by the State Auditor, the Citizens Redistricting Commission must draw the district lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population that will provide fair representation for all Californians.

Here is the Timeline for selecting members of the Commission:

•  60-day online application period: 12/15/09 – 2/12/10

•  Initial screening of Applications.

•  Qualified and disqualified applicants are notified.

•  Qualified applicants submit 2 nd application: 2/16/10 – 4/2/10

•  Applicant Review Panel (ARP) reviews applicant qualifications and identifies 120 of the most qualified applicants: 4/710 – 7/19/10

•  ARP interviews 120 of the most qualified applicants: 7/20/10 – 9/13/10

•  ARP selects 60 of the most qualified applicants: 9/14/10 – 9/30/10

•  ARP sends list of 60 applicants to Legislature who has up to 24 “strikes”: 10/1/10 – 11/15/10

•  The State Auditor randomly selects the first eight commissioners no later than 12/20/10

Following random selection of the first eight commissioners, the State Auditor's Office provides them with the names of remaining candidates. Those first eight commissioners select the remaining six to establish the 14-member commission.

This entire process must be conducted in public and Gun Owners of California will be watching this process intently.

GOC is asking any of our members who decide to apply to become a member of the Commission to let us know. Give us a call or send us an email so that we can do whatever we can to insure that your application is dealt with fairly. Our phone number is (916) 984-1400 or you can email us at samp@gunownersca.com .

We have always said that if we had fair districts in California, we would have a very good chance of electing a pro-gun legislature. Here is your opportunity to be a part of a process to bring fairness and honesty back to our legislature.

For more information or to apply to become a member of the Citizens Redistricting Commission go online to www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov and remember to let us know that you have applied.