Applicant Review Panel Interviews the Remaining 120 Applicants

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The California State Auditor's Applicant Review Panel (Panel), the body tasked with identifying 60 of the most qualified applicants for California's first Citizens Redistricting Commission, is holding public meetings to interview the 120 applicants remaining in the pool.

The Panel began the public meetings to interview the remaining applicants on Friday, August 6th. Interviews continue through Friday, September 13th. The interview consists of five standard questions all applicants must answer. Then, each panel member and legal counsel has the opportunity to ask individual questions to gain additional information about the applicant.

The 120 applicants consist of 40 registered Democrats, 40 registered Republicans, and 40 who are registered as decline-to-state or with another party. Of that applicant sub pool, 47 percent are women, 12 percent are African-American, 27 percent are Latino, 14 percent are Asian-American or Pacific Islander, 5 percent are American Indian and 37 percent are Caucasian.

"We are at a critical stage in the process of forming California's first independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and are thrilled with the caliber of candidates that remain in the pool," said Elaine M. Howle, California State Auditor. "I am extremely pleased with the integrity and thoroughness of the interview process so far and I encourage you to participate by watching the interviews as they are live streamed on our website at WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov."

All Panel meetings are public and are streamed live on the Internet at www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov. The meetings are also recorded by a videographer and stenographer, and both the video and transcripts of all meetings are available at http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov/application.html. The interviews begin at 9:15 every morning during the scheduled days and the last interview each day ends no later than 6:00 p.m. Upon completion of the interviews of the 120 applicants, the Panel will then narrow the applicant pool to 60 of the most qualified applicants—20 who are Democrats, 20 who are Republicans, and 20 who are either decline-to-state or belong to another party.

The Panel will submit this list of 60 applicants to the California State Legislature on or before October 1, 2010. Legislative leadership has the option of removing up to 24 names from the list. From the applicants that remain, the California State Auditor's office will then randomly select the first eight commissioners. Those eight commissioners will select the remaining six commissioners that will, in total, make up the final, 14-member Commission. The Commission will include, in total, five Republicans, five Democrats and four members that are registered as declined-to-state or with another party.

The 14-member Commission will redraw the lines for California's State Senate, Assembly and State Board of Equalization districts, based on information gathered during the 2010 census. The Commission must draw the district lines in conformity with strict, nonpartisan rules designed to create districts of relatively equal population meant to provide fair representation for all Californians.

For more information please visit www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov, or if you have questions, please call (866) 356-5217.

SOURCE California State Auditor's Office