By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P] / Bay City News
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed 14 county residents to the District Line Oversight Advisory Commission, which will be responsible for redistricting the county based on 2020 Census data and public input.
The county is divided into five districts, each represented by a supervisor. Every 10 years, state law requires counties to redraw their district maps based on census data to ensure that each district has the same population and that each board member has the same number of constituents.
While counties usually have their own staff and consultants redraw the district maps, San Mateo County supervisors decided to form a commission of resident volunteers to oversee the redistricting process.
After receiving 65 applications for the commission, county supervisors selected the fourteen members based on recommendations from the League of Women Voters of Southern San Mateo County, a nonpartisan education and advocacy group that encourages participation in government.
Members were selected based on associations with "good governance, civil rights, civic engagement and community groups or organizations that are active in the county, including those active in language minority communities," according to a staff report.
The fourteen members selected to oversee the redistricting process in San Mateo are: Nirmala Bandrapalli, Nathan Chan and Hermes Monzon Ruiz for District One; Marcus Barber, James Lawrence and Kailen Sallander for District Two; Benj Azose, Nadia Bledsoe Popyack and Marian Lee for District Three; Mark Dinan and Rudy Espinoza for District Four; and Rita Chow, Miguel Louis ?Rudy? Guerrero and Priscilla Romero for District Five.
The board also appointed two alternates: David Chu and Mark Olbert.
To ensure that each district has three members, the county will accept applications for District Four Seat 15. Applicants must live in District Four, which includes Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park - east of El Camino Real - and the unincorporated North Fair Oaks area.
Applications will be accepted until noon on August 16. Residents can apply online or find instructions for applying by mail at. https://cmo.smcgov.org/districtlines.
During Tuesday's meeting, several callers expressed support for the board's decision and requested that there be sufficient public workshops to help people understand the process and provide information.
Julia Marks, voting rights attorney for Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus, said the commission should hold more than two meetings before the census data is released.
"We've found that initial engagement can be really challenging because it's a complicated issue," Marks said based on caucus involvement in redistricting efforts in other California communities. "People often need multiple opportunities to listen and participate before they are ready to provide the very detailed information that the drafters will need to do their job."
After a series of public workshops, the San Mateo County Commission will recommend changes to the current district map and create a new map or draft maps. A professional demographer and county staff will assist with the process.
Board of Supervisors to approve final redistricting in San Mateo.
Current law requires the new district map to be fully approved by Dec. 15 and the county is asking the commissioners to complete the map by Nov. 15. a compact timeline and did not know if the legislation would extend the timeline.
Board Chairman David Canepa, who oversaw the recruitment efforts along with Supervisor Don Horsley, said his goal was to create a commission that reflects the county's diversity.
The commission is comprised of a group of 8 men and 6 women, ages 23 to 73, who are ethnically diverse and from communities throughout the county.
"The next step is to invite all residents, regardless of age or immigration status, to participate in the process and contribute to our future," Canepa said in a statement. "The destination of those lines helps ensure that everyone has an equal voice."
The current district map is available online at https://bos.smcgov.org/.
For more information or to receive e-mail updates about the District Lines Advisory Commission, visit https://cmo.smcgov.org/districtlines.
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