California Governor Schwarzenegger Joins Former Governors Davis and Wilson in Push for Redistricting Reform

08/23/2007 -- Calling for a fundamental change in the way political boundaries are drawn to promote fairness and transparency in elections, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined former Governors Davis and Wilson to push redistricting reform. The governors met with members of the Voices of Reform Coalition, Common Cause, the League of Women Voters and others to discuss the need for a redistricting measure to be passed this legislative session.

Since he was first elected nearly four years ago, the Governor has called for redistricting reform and just before this year's legislative session began, he unveiled a broad, bipartisan proposal aimed to promote greater competitiveness in legislative races and restore public confidence in state government.

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"Last December, I proposed a constitutional amendment for redistricting reform and since then we've been working with the Legislature, but now it's time to come to a consensus and put redistricting reform on the February 2008 ballot and bring true competition back to California politics," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

"Reforming the redistricting process is the most important action we can take to return control of the political process back to Californians. We need to restore the competitive and fair elections process and bring integrity back to our system -- the people of California deserve nothing less."

Governor Schwarzenegger is committed to working with state legislators this year to change the current system, which allows incumbents to draw their own district lines. This system presents an inherent conflict of interest, unfairly protecting incumbents and undermining party competition. As Governor, he backed Proposition 77 in the November 2005 election and has supported redistricting measures in the Legislature.

In the past three election cycles, only 4 of the 459 congressional and legislative seats changed party hands.

In December, as a preview to his 2007 State of the State Address, Governor Schwarzenegger joined with the Voices of Reform Coalition in announcing legislation to create an independent citizens commission that would utilize a fair and open process to redraw California's political boundaries and reinvigorate the connection between elected officials and Californians. The coalition is co-chaired by former Democratic Assemblymember Fred Keeley and Dan Schnur, Republican political consultant and former communications director for Governor Wilson.

The Governor believes the following principles need to be in a comprehensive redistricting proposal:

* The creation of an independent, politically balanced and diverse Citizens Redistricting Commission.
* Districts that respect the Voting Rights Act, state geography and California's communities.
* Transparency and public accountability when redrawing map lines.

Source: California Governor