Wide interest in redistricting

This just in: 30,275 people applied to serve on the Citizen’s Redistricting Commission. That’s right — the one with 14 spots. (Almost like applying to college!) The February 16 deadline will give way to Prop. 11’s redistricting effort in 2011. Critics attacked ’11’ as a power play by Republicans, noting that a 14-member panel could never mirror the diversity of California’s population. As a means of protecting the commission from special interests, State Auditor Elaine Howle will act according to the following protocol:

60 of the “most qualified” will comprise the next selection group: that is, 20 Republicans, 20 Democrats, and 20 non-affiliated voters. 24 more will drop after the president pro tem of the Senate, the Senate minority leader and the Assembly minority leader will strike two names each from the three groups.

That will leave 36, of which the State Auditor will randomly choose eight of the 14-member panel (two from each group). Those eight will then choose the final six.

The timeline for this process is here.

Sound complicated enough?