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.