Experts Expound

“It’s back: A ballot initiative to take redistricting away from the Legislature and turn it over to an independent commission. Is this a good idea? Would it really make a difference in the partisan makeup of the Capitol?”

This is a good idea for symbolic reasons. It eliminates a conflict-of-interest and restores the notion that the people’s business is conducted on a level playing field — not one skewed to benefit any one party or group of politicians. That said, it likely won’t make much difference in the Legislature’s partisan makeup because like-minded voters tend to live in the same geographic areas. Partisanship would be better addressed through an open primary.

Yes, it’s a good idea. It’s not written exactly the way I would have written it, but it’s an improvement over the measure that was on the ballot in ‘05, which was a botched and bungled attempt at redistricting reform. Unless it can be shown that there is exquisitely bi-partisan support, this initiative will go down, too, just like the seven previous ones have. Arnold has to be careful he doesn’t look like Bigfoot in the campaign.

A truly independent commission would make a big difference and we would no longer just have the extreme left and hard right representing everyone.

It’s an outstanding idea and it really would create competitive elections for enough legislative seats to make a significant difference in the Capitol. But they blew it by not getting it on the ballot in Feb with term limits. There’s no way it passes over Democratic opposition.

However the lines are drawn in a blue state, it’s going to stay blue….

Ahhh yes, the old independent commission game. And exactly who is it one knows to get on this ‘independent’ commission? And let’s explain to our kids that judges are non partisan too. Apparently, you can fool a majority of the people most of the time and that’s all it takes. We need some good old fashioned crusading reporters.

Absolutely. There would be fewer rigid holdouts like Tom McClintock and Ray Haynes and more pragmatic statesman like Ken Maddy and Pete Wilson.

It is interesting to note that, so far, the only voices in serious opposition to Prop. 11 are those of the Democratic leadership. Enough said.

Can they really draw a district in Riverside that offers hope to Democrats? Or a district on the North Coast that leans to the right? If so, then, heck yes, this’ll solve everything.

It’s a wonderful idea. Too bad the public employee unions that own the legislature will never let it happen.

The formula for selection for the commission is stupid.

Yes, turning over redistricting to an independent commission is a good idea. Politicians should not be in charge of drawing their own political boundaries. Period. It wouldn’t make a difference right away in the Capitol, but eventually it would help elect more moderate, pragmatic legislators.

The people from whom we sought opinions: Elizabeth Ashford, Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Mark Bogetich, Barry Brokaw, Morgan Crinklaw, J Dale Debber, Peter DeMarco, Jim Evans, Kathy Fairbanks, Jeff Fuller, Rex Frazier, Ken Gibson, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Sandy Harrison, Bob Hertzberg, Jason Kinney, Mike Madrid, Nicole Mahrt, Steve Maviglio,  Adam Mendelsohn, Barbara O’Connor, Bill Packer, Kassy Perry, Jack Pitney, Adam Probolsky, Tony Quinn, Matt Rexroad, Matt Ross, Roger Salazar, Dan Schnur, Will Shuck, Ralph Simoni, Sam Sorich, Ray Sotero, Garry South, Kevin Spillane, Rich Zeiger.