District changes ahead
Paul Clinton
SANTA ANA -- Changes to Orange County Board of Supervisors districts
could mean more emphasis on protecting offshore water and alter the
ongoing El Toro airport debate.
A board-appointed committee met Wednesday to craft a tentative
proposal to remap supervisorial boundaries when the this year’s census
data becomes available in April.
According to the state’s election code, the board must redraw the
boundaries based primarily on population. The adjustment is completed
after each federal census, conducted every 10 years.
County officials said they expect some changes to be made to the
existing map that would factor in a decade’s worth of growth in South
County and other shifts.
Some ideas have been floated -- including 2nd District Supervisor Jim
Silva’s idea to divide up the coastline among three districts instead of
the current two.
Newport Beach Councilwoman Norma Glover, for one, is backing Silva’s
plan.
“I thought that was a great idea,” Glover said. “It would bring the
issue of water quality to the forefront and have three supervisors
dealing with it.”
South County cities have expressed concern that the redistricting plan
could tip the balance of the El Toro airport debate by concentrating, and
thus marginalizing, anti-airport sentiment in one district -- headed by
5th District Supervisor Thomas Wilson.
But Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau said likely changes
wouldn’t radically affect the El Toro debate.
Still, the changes could bring new issues to the city’s table.
“I don’t think who represents you is cosmetic,” Bludau said. “We will
have to work closely with the supervisor who represents us.”
County officials cautioned against viewing any of the ideas as set in
stone.
“No proposal has been submitted,” County Redevelopment Program Manager
Paul Lanning said. “Those are people’s ideas and concepts.”
The county committee selected the Center for Demographic Research,
based at Cal State Fullerton, to prepare a tentative proposal until
census data can be plugged into the equation.
The Wednesday meeting, which included few comments from county
residents, also provided a platform for Latino activists who are expected
to push for more representation by lobbying for Santa Ana’s inclusion in
one district.
The board is expected to consider the final plan in June.
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