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March 18, 2008

Ontario Chamber Supports Political Reform Proposal

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce supports the California Voters FIRST Act. The proposal, sponsored by California Common Cause, seeks to reform the way state senators and assembly members are elected to the legislature. The Chamber has made it a priority in 2008 to act on the redistricting process, as outlined in the Chambers policy platform.
 

Click here to visit the California Voters FIRST Web site.

“We are supporting this redistricting reform proposal because we believe this is the best proposal out there with little to no opposition at this time,” stated Mark Smiley, President/CEO of the Ontario Chamber. “The California Voters FIRST Act due away with the conflict of interest legislators face when drawing their own district lines and it allows the citizens of California to be involved the process, limiting the any type of back room deals,” continued Smiley.

Every 10 years, after the federal government conducts a nation-wide census, new boundary lines, or districts, are drawn for each member of the California State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization. The Chamber believes that the current system of the California State Legislature of drawing their own district boundaries, the process known as redistricting, is a conflict of interest.

The California Voters FIRST Act aims to eliminate this conflict of interest by creating a 14-member citizen redistricting commission. The act would create a politically balanced commission - five democrats, five republicans, and four individuals that are not registered with one of the two major parties. The commissioners would then be chosen for their impartiality, skills, and to reflect our State’s demographic and geographic diversity.

The act would also protect communities, cities, and counties. The act creates a list of prioritized mapping criteria for the Commission to follow. This criteria would ensure that our Constitution, federal and state laws are followed. California’s communities, cities, and counties must be respected when district lines are redrawn every 10 years.

The Chamber believes that this is the best process currently and is hoping by supporting the proposal in the early initiative process, more organizations and individuals will follow suit. Once enough signatures are collected, the California Voters FIRST Act would be placed before the voters in November 2008.

“We believe by supporting this redistricting reform proposal in the early stages, we can be influential in getting the word out so voters will see it on the November ballot,” stated Bob Cruz, Chairman of the Ontario Chamber’s Government Affairs Council. “This is a chance for the business community to have a say in who gets elected to represent the Ontario area and who will effectively support the business community.

Click here to visit the California Voters FIRST Web site.