“Sound Bite” Politics: “Don’t Let The Politicians Pick The Voters”…

The redistricting effort in 2001 reflected – accurately – these changes. Because of that it had the support of both the Democrats and the Republicans, ending decades of partisan warfare that characterized the 80’s and 90’s.

Now that plan is under attack because it did NOT seek partisan advantage in the few remaining places in California where the districts could have been shaped to do so.

Republicans want a new shake of the dice because seats that reflect the reality – that they are hopelessly in the minority because of the extreme positions they take on issues – doom them to eternal minority status. You can’t raise money if you never control the government.

Reformers want a new shake because they’ve accepted the G.O.P. definitions of reform.

The Media want a new shake because they believe anything done by politicians conceals private benefits.

Republicans are right to want change. They have nothing to lose.

Reformers and the media should look more closely at two facts. First, there is nothing that restrains voters from crossing party lines and making districts competitive.
They don’t do it because they agree with their party’s candidate – or don’t have sufficient information to justify a party switch.

Insurance Commissioner Poizner’s campaign for Assembly in a “safe” Democratic seat proves this point. Poizer lost – but barely – because he had enough money to make himself heard. Hearing him, voters hesitated to simply vote party.
He lost that race, but not because he was a Republican.

Governor Schwarzenegger also won in a State so “safe” for Democrats the Republicans are spending millions to eliminate the current winner-take-all allocation of electoral votes. Why? Because his celebrity causes voters to pause and not rely simply on party labels to make a decision. Look at the numbers in the Feinstein – Mountjoy contest and the Schwarzenegger – Angelides race. Millions of voters switched between the parties in these two races.

Politicians picking the voters?

The right to redistrict (when forced to by the Census) has traditionally belonged to the political party that has managed to win majorities in the Assembly, in the Senate, and to elect a Governor. That occurred in 1950 (Republicans), 1960, 1980, and 2000 (Democrats). When the parties split control of the government (1970, 1990), the Supreme Court has made the decision.

Parties that win elections also have the right to organize the Legislature and to veto Legislation. Often this power serves the interest of the party in power to remain in power. What’s wrong with that?

Abuse of that authority calls down the wrath of the press corps – as it did in 1950 (Republicans) and in 1981 (Democrats). Bad press led to the successful referendum of the Democratic plans in 1982. A self-correcting system.

And we’re going to spend millions trying to change this because of a sound bite?

Bill Cavala was Deputy Director of the Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services where he worked for over 30 years.

Mr. Cavala manages election campaigns for Democratic candidates.