Commission in need of members

Are you a leader in your community? Do you want to make a difference? If so, the County of Los Angeles is encouraging you to apply for a seat on the new Citizens Redistricting Commission by Feb. 12.By logging onto www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov, residents can view the application and find out more about the important role they could play in the County and state redistricting process by being a member of the commission to redraw state legislative and some local jurisdiction boundaries. "Given that Los Angeles County represents at least one out of every four Californians, and that our cultural and community diversity is unique to any jurisdiction in the state, it is imperative that our county has an ample pool of qualified candidates to increase its prospects of representation," said Supervisor Gloria Molina, chair of the Board of Supervisors. Every 10 years, every person is counted through a process called the census, providing a snapshot of how many people there are and where they live. Based on the census figures, the state's population is then divided evenly into districts for the state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization. This is called redistricting. In California, the State Legislature has historically drawn these district maps. In 2011 a citizens commission, formed by the state auditor, will be in charge of redrawing the state district maps. The commission will be comprised of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four others. These individuals will be drawn from a pool of candidates from across the state. To qualify, candidates must: •Be a registered voter in California for at least the last five years with the same party (or non-party) affiliation. •Have voted in at least two of the last three statewide general elections. •Have relevant analytical skills, be impartial and appreciate California's diversity. The 14 commissioners will be selected by Dec. 31, 2010. Once elected, the commissioners will hold meetings around the state to listen to residents describe their communities, neighborhoods and what issues are important to them. The commission will use this information and draw district maps with an equal number of people in each district. The public hearing period runs from Jan. 1, 2011 to Sept. 15, 2011. The commissioners may spend 10-40 hours a week or more on their responsibilities. Commissioners will be paid $300 per day, plus reimbursement of personal expenses. For more information on job specifications and requirements, visit www.redistrictingca.gov.

********** Published: January 22, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 40