The redistricting wars are back

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There is no act more political than the drawing of legislative districts. In 2003, fights over political map making in Texas sent Democratic lawmakers into hiding across state lines. In California, gerrymandered districts have been blamed for political dysfunction and rampant partisanship in Sacramento. Now, with the state ready to tweak the boundaries of its 120 legislative districts and 53 congressional districts, the redistricting wars are back.

And you, dear voter, will apparently get another chance to have your say.

Last year, California voters elected to take the job of drawing legislative districts out of the hands of the state lawmakers who represented those seats. Now, a group of Democratic activists wants voters to change things back to the way they were.

A new measure to repeal Proposition 11, which was passed narrowly by voters in 2008 with a boost from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, was on the streets and gathering signatures as of Monday. Sponsor of the measure UCLA law professor Daniel Lowenstein is a former staffer for Jerry Brown, and was appointed by Brown to be the first chairman of the state’s election watchdog, the Fair Political Practices Commission, in 1974.

The state’s political districts will be redrawn next year after the 2010 census is complete. Under Proposition 11, a new citizens commission will be responsible for drawing the political boundaries for state Assembly and Senate districts. This new measure would put that power back in the hands of the Legislature and governor.

The Legislature will draw boundaries for California’s congressional districts, but another measure headed to the November ballot would take that power out of the hands of the Legislature, and turn it over to the commission created by Proposition 11.

-- Anthony York in Sacramento