Democrats set to gain legislative districts

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press December 10, 2000

By LISA WAHLA
Valley Press Staff Writer

Statewide Democratic successes in November's election could guarantee Democrats' influence for the foreseeable future, as legislators go to work carving California's new legislative districts.

The results could dramatically alter the Valley's political landscape for the upcoming decade.

After the census is taken every 10 years, states redraw their legislative districts to account for growth and population shifts. The process often turns into a highly polarized battle for turf, evidenced by the political turmoil following the 1990 census. Republican Gov. Pete Wilson refused to sign the map drawn by the Democrat-controlled legislature, and the state Supreme Court stepped in and appointed a mapmaking panel.

This time Democrats have control of the governor's office as well as solid majorities in the Assembly and Senate. By condensing solidly Republican areas into as few districts as possible, the majority party could virtually ensure its success for years to come.

Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, promised last week to "draw fair lines, lines that reflect the true California."

But local politicos say fairness is in the eye of the mapmaker.

"There's nothing more partisan than redistricting," Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster, said emphatically.

"I'm not optimistic," said local businessman Frank Visco, a former state GOP chairman. "You can see what the Democrats are doing in Florida - what's fair isn't the issue; control is the issue."

Democrat activist Roberta Gillis said that because Democrats control the legislature and the governor's office, "the state will be reapportioned fairly, fairly in our favor."

"I don't think they (Republicans) can sleep already," added Gillis, president of the Democratic Club of the Santa Clarita Valley. "I'm glad that the Republicans are trembling a little bit."

The current legislative map pairs most of the Antelope Valley with Santa Clarita; the north Los Angeles County regions share Runner, state Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight, R-Palmdale, and U.S. Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita.

North of Lancaster, the eastern Kern portion of the Valley is represented by Assemblyman Phil Wyman and Congressman Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield.

During the 1980s, the Valley was split into four Congressional districts, a situation Knight fears could return when Democrats form the new map.

Another scenario would remove Santa Clarita from Valley districts and put the city - as strongly Republican as Lancaster - with Simi Valley or part of the San Fernando Valley.

This could open the possibility of a High Desert district, with the AV combined with the Victor Valley, an idea Knight supports. It could also pit Santa Claritan McKeon against popular Ventura County representative Elton Gallegly, an unpleasant proposition for McKeon.

"The Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita ought to be kept together because they have similar transportation needs, they share freeways and train lines and both to some extent are economically linked to Los Angeles and each other," McKeon spokesman David Foy said.

But McKeon can only watch from the sidelines - and wait. Informal talks are ongoing, Runner said, but it's unlikely an actual map will be released until near the end of the legislative term in September.

Democrats need pick up only four GOP votes for a two-thirds majority, which would prevent Republicans from attempting a referendum. Without two-thirds approval, potentially perturbed Republicans might have just weeks to collect enough signatures to put the map up for a statewide vote.

Democrat strategy could include rewarding select Republicans with seats to gain the key GOP votes, Runner said.