Gov. Brown Signs Bill to Shift Redistricting Power

A bill to give ultimate authority over redistricting for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to an independent commission was signed into law Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Such commissions have been used to redraw district maps in the past, but the Board of Supervisors gave the final approval.

The bill by Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, would lead to creation of a panel of five former judges that would hold at least seven public hearings and adopt a new map for supervisorial districts. County voters will need to approve changes to the County Charter before the plan takes effect.

The law was first proposed by Supervisor Greg Cox following last year's bumpy redistricting process.

"This is a landmark achievement today for all San Diegans who support good government," Cox said. "Simply put, this proposal recognizes that politicians shouldn't be choosing their voters, but that voters should be choosing their elected officials."

Cox said speakers at redistricting meetings clearly stated they wanted politicians taken out of the process.

-City News Service