California: Redistricting

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is looking to clarify the definition of a "principal officer" on a campaign committee and could adopt a new regulation next month.

Commission Executive Director Roman Porter said the proposed regulation would add to an existing regulation that requires committees to include the identity of the principal officer, or the board of people with primary responsibility for the committee, when they file campaign paperwork.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer of California has added her name to those opposing Proposition 11, a redistricting initiative.

A press release from the anti-11 group Citizens for Accountability quoted Boxer as saying in a letter to the group that she was concerned that the measure would put too much power in the hands of too few unaccountable people.

The group opposing Proposition 11, which would reform how political districts are drawn in California, has pointed out that most of the large donors to the pro-11 side are wealthy developers and businessman.

A press release from Paul Hefner, a spokesman for the No on Prop. 11 group Citizens for Accountability, pointed out that among the top contributors to the measure are New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Los Angeles developer Rick Caruso and oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens.

Taxpayer advocate Ted Costa blasted Wednesday a redistricting initiative that made the November ballot this week, saying it has too many loopholes to be effective.

Costa, CEO of Sacramento-based group People's Advocate, said a provision in the initiative would allow a commission created to redraw political boundaries the latitude to disregard certain criteria if a particular geographic area met a certain designation.