State redistricting could split SLO County. Here’s how it would affect you
A new statewide redistricting map could divide San Luis Obispo County into different state and federal representation areas — grouping some local voters with those in Monterey County and others with voters in Santa Barbara County.
That means San Luis Obispo County would be represented by two people each in the California State Assembly, California State Senate and Congress.
For the past 10 years, San Luis Obispo County has had one assembly member, one state senator and one member of Congress. The county was not divided into separate districts; all local voters had the same representative in all three government bodies.
Draft 2020 redistricting maps for the state Assembly, state Senate and Congress introduced on Nov. 10 change that setup.
The county is divided into two districts in all three maps, meaning that voters living in one area may have a different representative than those in another.
Here’s what you need to know about the new statewide maps and the redistricting process. To learn more about the state redistricting process, view all maps and leave comments, visit wedrawthelinesca.org.
What do the new maps look like?
San Luis Obispo County’s current 35th Assembly District spans from the northern county line and reach into northern Santa Barbara County to the south, represented by Republican Jordan Cunningham.
The draft 2020 assembly map would change that, putting most of San Luis Obispo County in a district with coastal Monterey County.
A sliver of southern San Luis Obispo County — including Oceano and Nipomo — would be broken from the rest of the county and form a separate district with Santa Barbara County.
San Luis Obispo County’s current state Senate district boundaries connect to coastal Monterey County to the north, stretching all the way up past Santa Cruz. The southern boundaries end at the county line. Democrat John Laird represents the 17th District.
The draft 2020 state Senate map would divide San Luis Obispo County in two.
The city of San Luis Obispo and areas to the north would join a district with coastal Monterey County and Santa Cruz.
Most of the South County — including Grover Beach, Oceano and Nipomo — would be part of a district with Santa Barbara County and a portion of Ventura County.
San Luis Obispo County’s current congressional district boundaries end at the county line to the north and connect with Santa Barbara County to the south, represented by 24th District Congressman Salud Carbajal.
The draft 2020 congressional map would divide San Luis Obispo County into two districts.
Most communities north of the city of San Luis Obispo — including Atascadero, Paso Robles and Cambria — would join a district with coastal Monterey
County. San Luis Obispo, some North Coast communities and the South County would join a district with Santa Barbara County and a portion of Ventura County.
Who’s drawing the new statewide districts?
California is in the midst of redrawing the boundary lines for congressional, Assembly, state Senate and state Board of Equalization districts, as it does every 10 years. The state must change the shape of those districts to account for 2020 Census population shifts.
State leaders appoint the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to oversee redistricting efforts. The Redistricting Commission is a 14-member group with five Democrats, five Republicans and four people not affiliated with either of the two major parties.
The Redistricting Commission held a series of public input meetings and line-drawing sessions in October and November. It released preliminary district draft maps on Nov. 10, and it will hold more input meetings and line-drawing sessions later in November and in December.
The Redistricting Commission will send final district maps to the secretary of state no later than Dec. 27.
What do SLO County residents and politicians think of draft maps?
Some San Luis Obispo County residents are frustrated by the 2020 draft Assembly, state Senate and congressional maps, saying the county should remain whole in one district.
Others don’t think San Luis Obispo County should be lumped into a district that stretches north, saying the area has more in common with Santa Barbara County.
“San Luis Obispo County should not be torn in half and forced into representation with counties to the north which do not share our interests or goals,” one unnamed commenter wrote on the state’s feedback form on Nov. 3.
“We are more closely tied to Santa Barbara County, which, like us, has no major cities, share the differing needs of the relatively rural community we are from the needs and desires of metro areas, and would likely never see another local representative given the population (thus voter representation) in those larger communities,” the commenter added. “This proposed division of our county will leave our county unrepresented.”
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors in July passed a resolution requesting the county be kept whole in the new Assembly, state Senate and congressional maps.
“The agriculture industry, the tourism industry, local government partnerships, and regional watersheds provide strong ties and long-term relationships that are shared by all seven cities and all unincorporated communities, and it is therefore very important and essential that these interests and relationships be represented in whole in each Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly District,” the resolution said.
The San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau on Nov. 8 wrote a comment urging the Redistricting Commission “to not divide San Luis Obispo County into multiple districts.”
“San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau believes these proposed changes will weaken our voice and negatively impact our agriculture community,” the comment said. “Given the population makeup of counties in the region, these new districts would make it unlikely to have a SLO County-based elected representative for any of the three seats.”
However, the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — a social justice and immigrant advocacy organization in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties — believes the maps “strengthen the voice of farmworker and immigrant communities in the Central Coast,” Lucas Zucker, policy and communications director, wrote in an email.
“Thanks to the community’s advocacy, the commission has created an assembly district with majority voters of color by putting together the Oxnard Plain and Santa Clara Valley in Western Ventura County,” Zucker said. “We’re also thankful that the draft Senate districts keep together the farmworker communities of the Santa Maria Valley with those in the Oxnard Plain. The Central Coast is a region with massive economic and racial disparities and redistricting is vital to ensuring all of our communities have a voice.”
Nicholas Mirman, Cunningham’s spokesman, said it would be “inappropriate for the assemblyman to comment at this time” while the maps are being drawn by an independent commission.
Carbajal said he’s in favor of California’s “independent redistricting process,” which he wants to see spread to other states throughout the country. However, politicians should not play a role in map redrawing, he said.
“I’ve enjoyed representing San Luis Obispo County and will keep working on issues important to that region for as long as I am in Congress,” Carbajal wrote in an email. “If the district is redrawn as proposed, I will work closely with my colleague Rep. Panetta to ensure all of San Luis Obispo County continues to be well-represented in Congress, and I will do the same for any new areas that might be added to my district.”
