Redistricting Brings Representation Change to Foothills
by Senator Tom Berrhill
Citizens in the foothills region of California may be surprised to find out
the Senator elected to represent them is no longer doing so. (Senator Gaines was the state senator we elected in November of 2012)
As a by-product of the 2012 redistricting, about two million California voters have been left without a representative, and roughly another two million have two representatives.
(After the election the Sentinel attempted to find out who represented us now and were met with either blank stares or I don't knows)
This circumstance is a by-product of the state's once-every-decade redistricting process when legislative boundaries are redrawn and district numbers are reassigned.
But you are not unrepresented! One of the first orders of business for the Senate this session was to assign a senator to temporarily represent these so-called "orphaned" area, and I've been asked to be the contact for constituent services and any other state governmental assistance citizens of Mono, Calaveras, and Amador may require.
The redistricting glitch is not limited to this part of the state alone. It impacts areas in rural, urban, Southern, Northern and Central California and occurs primarily because of the California Senate's unique election cycle.
Unlike Congressional or Assembly seats, where each district is up for election every two years, state Senate district reelections are staggered--each seat is up every four years.
Of the new Senate districts established by the redistricting commission, only the 20 odd-numbered districts went into effect after the 2012 elections.
The 20 remaining even-numbered districts will go into effect after the 2014 election cycle.
In the interim, it is my goal to ensure you receive the highest quality of services from my office.
We are here to make sure you have a voice in Sacramento-to help you cut through governent red tape, to get answers you might have about state government and to hear your opinions on policy matters before the legislature.
In order to better assist citizens in the foothills communities, a district office has been opened in Jackson.
Dana Jorgensen (who also works for Assemblyman Bigelow) is the District Director in that office.
He can be reached at 209-233-9140 or by email at dana.jorgensen@sen.ca.gov. The Jackson District Office is located at 33 Broadway, Jackson, CA 95642.
While transitions can be confusing, my staff and I will work to ensure your needs are met. I look forward to serving you the next two years.
Please visit my website at www.senate.ca.gov/berryhill for additional contact inforation
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