Vote Yes on Proposition 77

Summary Prepared by the State Attorney General:

Amends state Constitution's process for redistricting California's Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization districts. Requires three-member panel of retired judges selected by legislative leaders.

I am voting yes on Proposition 77.

Some time ago, Republican and Democratic members of the State Legislature enacted an incumbent protection program and gerrymandered 2/3 of the seats to be safe for Democrats and 1/3 to be safe for Republicans. Shame on those Republican legislators who entered this unholy alliance.

In 2004 not one seat in California switched parties.

Proposition 77 takes the process of redistricting out of the hands of the politicians who have a personal stake and puts in those of retired judges who are not personally affected.

Will it be a better system? I don't know. But the current system is completely flawed and its time to try something else.

The current district boundaries also serve to elect the most extreme candidates of either party. If a district is overwhelmingly Democratic or overwhelmingly Republican in registration, the real contest is in that respective party primary. In order to win the favor of the party activists - who are always more extreme than the rank and file - you're going to get super liberal candidates such as Jackie Goldberg and conversely hard core conservatives like Tom McClintock. Moderates such as Richard Riordan or Bob Hertzberg would have no chance, even though most Californians identify as moderates.

Lets end incumbent protection and this dirty, Republican deal (I don't blame the Democrats for making the deal because you expect as much out of them) and vote yes on Proposition 77.


Click here for a few more examples of gerrymandered California legislative districts.