Santa Paula
Reverse gerrymandering
To the Editor:
Re: Star Article of Sunday, July 17 “Political Shake-up: Democrats Set Sights on Gallegly’s Seat”
In a recent election, the people of California voted by citizen proposition to change how Congressional Districts are formed. Previously, the politicians in Sacramento, and Washington, D.C., and to some extent, the major political parties, the Republicans and Democrats, created these districts. Frequently it was done in such a way as to favor the incumbents then in office. In Ventura County, that would include Elton Gallegly, a long-term conservative incumbent whom our local “liberals” or “progressives” hold in high disfavor, but who is doing an excellent job. So under some kind of banner of “pure democracy” or “fairness”, or to maybe “level the playing field” in Ventura County, the new districts now proposed would seem to put an end to Gallegly’s lock on the office by gerrymandering his district into a Democratic dominated district. How “fair” is that?
Isn’t this very issue that the voters wanted to correct? Is the logic that if we gerrymander in reverse, then it’s OK? If they can’t dislodge Gallegly at the ballot box, then it’s OK to do it by redrawing district lines to push him out?
In my letter to the editor of mid-June this year, I pointed out that having Dr. Gabino Aguirre in a position of power on the re-districting Committee would result in exactly what we now see happening: Reverse Gerrymandering. The Committee’s maps have been shrouded in secrecy, apparently because the members do not want to hear adverse comments. This issue is far too important for these kinds of political games. This type of behavior is the reason that we will likely have to further cut many critical programs.
Larry Sagely
Santa Paula