Schwarzenegger favors passage of Ohio Issue 4

California's governor said it's a step toward more competitive districts.
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- On Wednesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed an Ohio ballot measure that is similar to Proposition 77, the redistricting proposal on California's Nov. 8 special election ballot.
Like Proposition 77, the Ohio proposal, state Issue 4, would take redistricting powers away from state legislators and turn them over to a commission. It's also on the ballot Nov. 8.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is battling the perception that his support for Proposition 77 is an attempt to elect more Republicans to the state Legislature and California's congressional delegation. The Ohio proposal is backed by Democrats.
"State Issue 4 is far from perfect and has several shortcomings. But the perfect cannot be the enemy of the good, and State Issue 4 remains a step forward toward more competitive election districts," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "For that reason, State Issue 4 has my endorsement."
Representatives of the California group supporting taking redistricting also endorsed an Ohio group's effort Wednesday at a Columbus news conference.
Bipartisan board
Reform Ohio Now, backed by labor unions and other Democratic-leaning groups, are trying to take congressional redistricting from the Legislature and legislative line-drawing from a board made up of elected officials and give both to a bipartisan board. Republicans have had a lock on statewide offices and the Legislature since 1994.
Bill Mundell, chairman of the California group, noted that in 153 state legislative and congressional seats up for grabs in California last November, none changed party hands. He said that was what happens when political parties become entrenched in the process.
However, the difference in the two states' plans is who has the final say, said David Hopcraft, spokesman for Ohio First, which opposes the Ohio issue. In California, voters would have to approve the new map; in Ohio, the board would approve.