This is an update of a previous post. Jim Holmes blatantly told the Loomis Town Council that he had Map C drawn up. The Placer County Planning Commission appears to only be considering Map A and B. In specifics, I have been told that they are fixated on Map A because they think Newcastle is more important than Rocklin. Who knew. The significance of Map C is that those responsible for the process only did two maps (per their mandate) and Holmes insisted on having a third map made. This is the issue
Here is the specific issue relating to placer and state election law below. Communities of Interest are not supposed to include the needs of incumbents. Why did Placer County Counsel allow Holmes to have Map C drawn up? That appears to be a blatant violation of that part of election law.
Jim Holmes has been on a rampage because it is near certain that he will be drawn in to the same Supervisorial District as Cindy Gustafson. IF this is the case, Holmes is toast. As it is, the Planning Commission appears dead-set on keeping Rocklin Split between two districts (aka Map A) which is patently absurd.
Pay careful attention to this 4 1/2 minute video. Holmes is clear about his role in having a third map created (aka Map C), he is also clear that his opposition to map A and B is about himself and he is finally clear that if Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle Matter then they should agree with him on Map C. It appears that part of the nexus for the planning commission to keep Rocklin split is their desire to keep Newcastle in the same district as Penryn and Loomis. Hence, my comment about Newcastle mattering more than Rocklin.
Now – have a look at the Placer County Election Code Below: (It is based on State Law as well)
Per AB849:
Elections Code
21500.
(a) Following each federal decennial census, and using that census as a basis, the board shall adjust the boundaries of any or all of the supervisorial districts of the county so that the supervisorial districts shall be substantially equal in population as required by the United States Constitution.
(1) Population equality shall be based on the total population of residents of the county as determined by that census.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an incarcerated person, as that term is used in Section 21003, shall not be counted as part of a county’s population, except for an incarcerated person whose last known place of residence may be assigned to a census block in the county, if information about the last known place of residence for incarcerated persons is included in the computerized database for redistricting that is developed in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 8253 of the Government Code, and that database is made publicly available.
(b) The board shall adopt supervisorial district boundaries that comply with the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 (52 U.S.C. Sec. 10301 et seq.).
(c) The board shall adopt supervisorial district boundaries using the following criteria as set forth in the following order of priority:
(1) To the extent practicable, supervisorial districts shall be geographically contiguous. Areas that meet only at the points of adjoining corners are not contiguous. Areas that are separated by water and not connected by a bridge, tunnel, or regular ferry service are not contiguous.
(2) To the extent practicable, the geographic integrity of any local neighborhood or local community of interest shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division. A “community of interest” is a population that shares common social or economic interests that should be included within a single supervisorial district for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Communities of interest do not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates.
(3) To the extent practicable, the geographic integrity of a city or census designated place shall be respected in a manner that minimizes its division.
(4) Supervisorial district boundaries should be easily identifiable and understandable by residents. To the extent practicable, supervisorial districts shall be bounded by natural and artificial barriers, by streets, or by the boundaries of the county.
(5) To the extent practicable, and where it does not conflict with the preceding criteria in this subdivision, supervisorial districts shall be drawn to encourage geographical compactness in a manner that nearby areas of population are not bypassed in favor of more distant populations.
(d) The board shall not adopt supervisorial district boundaries for the purpose of favoring or discriminating against a political party.
I think Placer County Counsel needs to be read the riot act or replaced with an entry level pre-law student over this. Holmes? Is he even aware of the fact that he is setting fire to himself, not only politically, but legally as well? This is insane.