For Immediate Release - December 16, 2009
WCVI Urges Californians to Apply to Redistricting Commission
Early Applicant Pool 83% Non-Latino White; 44% from Sacramento
Contacts:
Steven Ochoa, 323-222-2217
LOS ANGELES – The William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI) urges all qualified candidates, particularly minorities, to apply for the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The two-month long application process opened yesterday, and as of noon today, 83% of the 1365 qualified applications for this majority-minority state were self-identified as Non-Latino White, which are only 42% of the state’s population.
“This first day of applications, admittedly with no public outreach campaign really underway, should still serve as a big wake up call to minority community advocates as to what could happen if we do nothing,” said WCVI President Antonio Gonzales. “We all need to get the message out now to apply for this vital body which will shape minority representation in California for the next decade.”
When Californians narrowly passed Proposition 11 in 2008, the 14-member commission was established to shoulder the responsibilities of re-drawing the State’s Assembly, Senate, and Board of Equalization Districts after the decennial Census count. Congressional Districts remain the jurisdiction of the State Legislature. The California Bureau of State Auditors was tasked with administering the application process, whose office opened an online process yesterday and will run until February 12, 2010.
Race/Ethnicity |
Auditor Pool |
% of State |
American Indian or Alaskan Native |
0.51% |
0.50% |
Asian |
3.00% |
12.10% |
Black |
2.49% |
6.00% |
Hispanic or Latino |
8.06% |
36.10% |
Pacific Islanders |
0.07% |
0.30% |
White |
83.44% |
42.60% |
Other |
2.42% |
2.40% |
NOTE: Auditor Application pool as of 12n, 12/16/09. State Figures from US Census ACS Data |
Further, so far with only the Sacramento Bee posting a front page article to raise awareness, the current crop of applicants are disproportionately from non-representative Sacramento County. The Sacramento Region of the state now makes up 44% of the applicant pool, where it only makes up 7.5% of the State’s population. Conversely, the Los Angeles County Region makes up only 20.5% of the Applications, and 46% of the Population
Region |
Auditor |
% of State |
Bay Area |
15.02% |
15.11% |
Central Coastal |
3.37% |
7.96% |
Inland Empire |
4.84% |
11.35% |
North Central Valley and Mountain |
43.74% |
7.54% |
North Coastal |
0.44% |
0.83% |
Southern Central Valley and Mountain |
12.09% |
11.39% |
Southern Coastal |
20.51% |
45.81% |
NOTE: Auditor Application pool as of 12n, 12/16/09. State Figures from California Dept of Finance |
“One of the criticisms used to pass Proposition 11 was that California was tired of Sacramento driving the redistricting process, and without proper outreach, it seems that’s happening with this redistricting process as well,” added WCVI Research Vice President Steven Ochoa. “Southern California media and community groups need to step up awareness of the process if it wants fair representation in this applicant pool.”
Applicants for the Commission, over the last 5 years, must be continuously registered in CA since 11/20/2005, registered with same political party or Decline to State, and voted in 2 of 3 last statewide elections. Disqualified are those who in the preceding 10 years were candidates or elected to Congress or state office, appointed to any state office by the Governor, a state legislator or Board of Equalization member, employed as paid staff for a state legislator, Board of Equalization, or member of Congress, worked for a political party, worked for campaign committee of a candidate for state or federal office, elected or appointed member of a political party central committee, contributed at least $2000 in any one year to candidate (local, state, congress), paid state or federal legislative staff, or are registered as a federal, state, or local government lobbyist. Immediate family members of any of those listed above are also disqualified.
Please visit www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov to fill out the online application and review all the qualifications and regulations governing the Redistricting Commission.
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WCVI is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit policy and research organization. Founded in 1985, WCVI is focused on issues relevant to America's racial and ethnic minority groups. WCVI has offices in San Antonio, Texas and Los Angeles, CA.
