Redistricting moves Congressman east

For the first time in state history, citizens drew the lines for
California’s political districts and Healdsburg voters will
experience some big changes.
California Congressional, Senate and Assembly district maps,
drawn by a voter approved independent commission, were certified as
final and formally presented to the California Secretary of State
on Monday.
U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson, who has represented Healdsburg
and the rest of the north county to the Oregon border since his
election to the former 1st Congressional District in 1998, will no
longer be elected by north county voters.
Instead, the new boundaries split that district and Thompson
will run in the re-shaped fifth Congressional District, which is
where his hometown of St. Helena is now represented.
“Healdsburg is one of the most charming and beautiful towns that
I have had the honor to represent,” Thompson said this week. “I am
saddened that the Redistricting Commission chose to separate
Healdsburg and Windsor from the rest of Sonoma County in the new
district. The lines don’t change until the next election and I will
continue to work tirelessly for all of Sonoma County. I will never
forget these towns, the people, or their issues.”
The maps could be challenged in court or by voters, but most
observers believe these will be the new districts, according to
Congressman Thompson’s office. 
Thompson said, however, that he was pleased that the new
district lines will reunite him with areas of the county that he
has served in the past.
“I’ve always represented part or all of Sonoma County in both
the State Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. The district
changes and transition will be seamless and the outpouring of
support from communities in Sonoma County has been overwhelming and
heart-warming.  While I am sad to lose some areas of Sonoma County,
I feel that I am going home in others, and I look forward to
working hard on behalf of all of Sonoma County.”
Not only will local voters lose the longtime Congressman with
Thompson heading east, but the new coastal congressional district
seat is up for grabs.
Current Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, who represented southern
Sonoma and Marin County, recently announced that she will
retire.
Multiple candidates have emerged to run for the newly formed
district that spans from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon
border, including three candidates from Marin County:
Assemblymember Jared Huffman, political activist and author Norman
Solomon and Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams, as well as one
Sonoma County candidate, Petaluma City Councilwoman Tiffany
Renee.
A 14-member Citizen Redistricting Commission voted to approve
the new district boundaries in late July. In the past, the
legislature was in charge of redistricting, but a voter-approved
initiative, passed in 2008, created the independent citizens
commission.
The Board of Equalization, which administers sales and use
taxes, was also redrawn.
The boundary changes are scheduled to go into effect for the
2012 election.
The state senate and assembly districts representing Healdsburg
residents has changed as well, though likely not as drastically the
north county.
The assembly district, currently represented by Assemblymember
Wes Chesbro, will be called District 2, rather than District 1 and
continues to cover the entire north coast from Santa Rosa to the
Oregon border.
“I am grateful the Citizens Redistricting Commission recognized
the importance of keeping the North Coast whole in one Assembly
district,” Chesbro said in a statement. “The credit for this goes
to community groups, local governments and individuals up and down
the North Coast who wrote letters to the Commission and went to
meetings to communicate the importance of our coastal counties
being kept together.”
The newly aligned 2nd District though now includes portions of
Santa Rosa it hadn’t before, including Oakmont, which may pose a
problem for State Assemblymember Michael Allen. Allen represents
the 7th District, but his home in Oakmont is now part of the same
district as Chesbro.
Healdsburg is also currently represented in the second senate
district by State Senator Noreen Evans. Under the newly redrawn
maps, Healdsburg will remain in the second senate district.
To view the new maps online, visit http:// sfg.ly/qRImK7.
Kerrie Lindecker can be reached at Ke****@so********.com.