For Immediate Release: February 8, 2023

Media Contact: Michelle.Sherwood@sen.ca.gov

SENATOR ASHBY INTRODUCES SB 314—SACRAMENTO COUNTY FAIR AND INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Angelique V. Ashby (D-Sacramento) introduced SB 314—which will create an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw County Supervisor districts in Sacramento County for 2030. 

“Electoral districts must be created fairly with equal representation as their guide,” said Senator Ashby. “By establishing an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, we can better ensure that Sacramento County’s district lines accurately reflect the various communities represented and provide much needed transparency to the redistricting process.”

In 2021, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors drew their own district lines. They held hearings and took public comment, but ultimately made the final decision themselves as to what their areas of representation would be. Conversely, the City of Sacramento used an Independent Redistricting Commission to draw its City Council lines. While no process is perfect, it is clear that in order to uphold the highest level of transparency, elected officials should not be the final say on determining their own future district lines.

The County process left several organized groups feeling unheard. For example, one vocal constituency that repeatedly pled to remain whole was the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Ultimately, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to adopt a supervisorial district map that fractured the AAPI communities of South Sacramento County, splitting them between supervisorial districts.

It is preferable for the public to have greater transparency in their redistricting process. An Independent Redistricting Commission will help achieve that goal.

SB 314 requires that, after completion of the 2030 Census, Sacramento County elections officials constitute a commission to draw its county supervisorial districts. This commission would be reconstituted after every census to draw the County’s supervisorial districts in subsequent redistricting cycles. SB 314 will also set out eligibility criteria and restrictions for members of the commission that mirror the criteria used by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, which takes demographics and employment history into consideration, and bars lobbyists and individuals who have been candidates for or elected to public office within the preceding ten years.

The bill can be heard in committee after March 9^th.

###

About Senator Angelique V. Ashby

Senator Angelique V. Ashby represents Elk Grove, Elverta, Rio Linda and Sacramento. She is the first woman elected to represent Sacramento in the State Senate in more than 20 years. She was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 2010. She was the sole woman for more than half of her 12 year tenure and the only member in city history to serve as Vice Mayor or Mayor pro Tem for 8 years. She is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law, and earned her baccalaureate at the University of California at Davis.

For more information, visit Senator Ashby’s Website here or find her on Twitter at @SenatorAshby