Who Will Rep Monrovia in Congress?

If the boundaries drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission remain following a vote later this month and the city is split into two congressional districts, Monrovia's congressional representation could change dramatically.

The northern portion of the city would fall into a district with other cities in the west San Gabriel Valley, while the larger bottom portion would be included in an eastern San Gabriel Valley congressional district. Neither would be an ideal fit for Monrovia's current congressman, David Dreier (R-San Dimas).

One likely candidate in the west San Gabriel Valley district would be Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, who current represents much of the South San Gabriel Valley in the 32nd congressional district and would reside in the new district.

Chu's spokesman, Fred Ortega, told Patch that though they have not had specific discussions, as far as he knows Chu intends to run for reelection in 2012 in the new district.

"All the conversations I've had with her, she was looking at this district," Ortega said, though he stressed that Chu has not made a definitive announcement at this point.

Chu has been in office since 2009 when she was elected in a special election, and formerly served in the Monterey Park City Council, California State Assembly, and Board of Equalization.

Portantino and the District

One other possibility for the west San Gabriel Valley district could be Monrovia's current representative in the state Assembly, Anthony Portantino, who has announced he will run for U.S. Congress in 2012 and has raised almost $330,000 for the contest.

The new district includes many towns Portantino has represented, though not his home town of La Cañada Flintridge. That will be in a district that includes Burbank, where Adam Schiff lives.

Portantino told Patch that he would not run against Schiff, though he pointed out that Schiff has not publicly announced he will run in the new district.

He declined to say whether he would run against Chu and had little else to say on the subject.

"I'm going to wait until the maps are final," Portantino said. "Then I'll have an announcement."

Portantino and any other candidate can run in any district without living in it as there are no residency requirements for living in a district that you represent. 

The East SGV District

Another option for Portantino could be the east San Gabriel Valley district, which does not have an obvious Democratic candidate. It would be a district with a significant Democratic advantage where the only incumbent congressman who resides there is Dreier, a Republican.

Pasadena Star-News columnist Larry Wilson wrote in a recent column that Portantino could move to Monrovia, a town he represents, and run in that district.

When asked if that was a possibility, Portantino simply said:

"I love Monrovia, and I am proud to represent it."