Los Alamitos Faces Unwelcome Changes in Legislative Redistricting

Even by conservative Orange County standards, Los Alamitos stands out as reliably Republican.

So redistricting proposals that would place Los Alamitos in a congressional district dominated by Democratic-leaning cities such as Long Beach would seem likely to face backlash from Los Alamitos voters. However, the community has been largely silent on a series of redistricting proposals triggered by the 2010 census. Los Alamitos city leaders are hoping that residents will join them this week in voicing their opinions on proposed district maps before the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. In the ongoing process of whittling down new districts, the commission is slated to release the first draft of maps this Friday and to finalize the districts by August.

From what they have seen so far, Los Alamitos officials aren’t happy.

“I am appalled,” said City Councilwoman Marilynn Poe. “This is absolutely ridiculous.”

On Monday the City Council instructed City Manager Jeff Stewart to send a letter objecting to the proposed redistricting maps.

“This looks like we are just going to be pushed into a hole,” said Poe. “I think it’s horrible, and I would like to have you scream bloody thunder,” she told Stewart.

City officials hope to influence the commission before the first draft of maps is released Friday.

There is a lot at stake for Los Alamitos in the redistricting proposals for the California Assembly, State Senate and congressional districts, said Mayor Pro Tem Troy Edgar.

After every census, the voting districts need to be redrawn to accommodate shifts in population. In 2008, California voters opted to have a nonpartisan commission design the district maps to avoid the kind of gerrymandering that allows the two political parties to create districts designed to protect or bolster their power. In recent weeks, the commission invited citizens to submit proposals for the new districts. About 25 groups - mostly special interest groups such as the Sierra Club, the California Conservative Action Group and the Latino Policy Forum – submitted maps.

The commission’s mission is to create districts of equal size that neither dilute nor segregate minority-voting blocks. The commission also strives to create districts comprised of neighboring cities with common interests.

On Tuesday, the commission reviewed a series of maps that would put Los Alamitos in a coastal assembly district with Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa or a U.S Congressional Assembly with Long Beach.

“We are such a small city, we would get engulfed in those coastal districts,” said Edgar. Los Alamitos and Rossmoor have less than half the population of any other city in the proposed districts. “We need to maintain our influence base as best we can,” added Edgar. Major issues for coastal cities such as coastal runoff, beach erosion and summer tourism aren’t relevant for Los Alamitos, added Edgar.

Traditionally, Los Alamitos has shared a district with several small neighboring cities such as Cypress, Buena Park and La Palma. These communities share roadways, fire stations, medical facilities, trash providers, a SWAT Team and a police dispatch center, said Edgar. As small cities with common interests, they are accustomed to working well together, said Edgar.

Under the proposed redistricting map. Los Alamitos would be moved from the 67^th Assembly District under Jim Silva to the 68^th District under Allan Mansoor of Costa Mesa.

There is still time to comment on the proposed districts at the California Citizens Redistricting Commission website.

“This affects our governance for the next ten years,” added Edgar.