Nine years ago Chula Vista voters, collectively, took an action that changed the way the business of politics was conducted. They voted for district elections.
Two years later, in 2014, the city’s first districting commission was formed, ultimately establishing the boundaries that divvied the city into four voting blocks, with the office of the mayor still decided by the city at large.
In 2016, the newly formed District 3 and 4—which represented segments of the east and west sides of the city respectively—were the focus of the city’s first ever district elections.
(I imagine residents of Districts 1 and 2 were relieved to not find themselves on the receiving end of candidate visits, mailers and other campaign literature at the time, though they would get their turn two years later).
By 2018 district elections were already old hat even though residents of D1 and D2 were experiencing it for the first time.
And then, last year, in 2020 the city formed it’s first ever Redistricting Commission (though technically it’s a Districting Commission redux given that its ultimate task is to establish voting boundaries, as did the 2014 body).
A group of seven Chula Vista residents is now tasked with fairly re-drawing voting districts based on 2020 Census information and public feedback.
Stelle Andrade, John Cressler, Elidia Dostal, Caneisha Fortner, Gloria Hurtado, Michael Juan and Robert Moreno have been working since last fall during weekly meetings at City Hall and now they’re ready for more public interaction.
Public workshops this year are scheduled for Wednesday, July 28, 6 p.m. at Chula Vista City Council Chambers; Thursday, July 29, 6 p.m. at Veterans Recreation Center, 785 E. Palomar St.; Saturday, July 31 at 9:30 a.m. at Salt Creek Community Center 2710 Otay Lakes Road in Chula Vista; and Monday, Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. Otay Recreation Center 3554 Main St.
Whether you want your district based on economics, political party affiliation, race and ethnicity, house color or preferred pet, the redistricting commission workshops are one more way to influence the direction this city moves.
