By Tes Welborn, HANC Board

The Elections Commission is holding some meetings to review the recent Redistricting process and consider what, if any, changes may be needed for the next Redistricting in 10 years.  Changes proposed may come in the form of a ballot proposition, sponsored by the Elections Commission or the Board of Supervisors.

I attended the Elections Commission’s September meeting in which they devoted about an hour to Q&A with three former task force members from the last three redistricting processes.

Cynthia Dai, Asian American, who served on the state's redistricting commission, is the Elections Commission’s point person for Redistricting. New commissioner Renita LiVolsi, appointed by the Public Defender, and is African American, volunteered to work with Ms. Dai on future Redistricting discussions. [FYI, other commissioners appeared to be white.]

Many questions

Ms. Dai led the session, asking former task force members about many matters. These included: high lights/low lights of their experience; how were they appointed and were there factions; how should task force candidates be vetted; was the task force broadly representative, would a larger task force help, and would a stipend help; was the selection of the task force open or political; was there training; how were criteria used in decision-making, would ranking criteria help, and what was the role of Communities of Interest; how were task forces supported in operations; when were maps first issued and deadlines; did a majority vote for the final map; how could the process be improved; accountability and transparency; did they serve at the pleasure of their appointing body and would alternates be a good idea.

There is much that went wrong in this year's Redistricting Task Force and final map. HANC members and allies should get involved in how Redistricting can be done in the future.

The October 19 meeting starts at 6pm and 30 minutes have been allocated to the Redistricting subject. You are invited to attend in person (Room 408, City Hall) or remotely (via WebEx to be posted at https://sfgov.org/electionscommission/ ) and make public comment.

A report of violations of the Sunshine Ordinance by the Redistricting Task Force was published in Mission Local, August 4, 2022. Four members were found in violation of the city's public records laws. Three were appointed by the Mayor, and one by the Elections Commission, and all four voted for the final map, along with another Elections Commission appointee.

You also need to know that the Elections Commission is made up of seven members. It is unusual in that the every commissioner is appointed by a different office. One each is appointed by the following: the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, the City Attorney, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Treasurer, and the Board of Education.  In September, four of them appeared to be carry-overs, joined by a new person from the Public Defender's office. Two vacancies await the Mayor's and the Board of Education's appointments.