Board of Supervisors Finalizes Redistricting Map That Splits Fountain Valley

The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to adopt redistricting plan 21C, which divides Fountain Valley between supervisorial Districts 1 and 2.

The newly approved district lines take effect in 30 days. Until now, Fountain Valley was entirely inside District 2, represented by Supervisor John Moorlach, who voted against the new plan.

"I believe cities are communities of interest, and that's more important than any other communities of interest," Moorlach said. "When it comes to the local level, we need to be pragmatic with how we operate, and cities need to remain intact. I see what we're doing with 21C as gerrymandering, and I have really serious problems with that."

, the committee charged with handling the redistricting process had several configurations on the table, two of which divided Fountain Valley in half. The Fountain Valley City Council unanimously passed a supporting plan 21, which kept the city entirely within District 2.

Fountain Valley Mayor Pro Tem John Collins spoke to the board Tuesday: "I'm here today to say how disappointed I am in your decision," Collins said. "Your body put together a committee, and that committee had 10 meetings out in the community and examined all the possibilities. Your body ignored the three recommendations and went on to adopt something that was brought up at the last minute. I've heard rumors that this was a political design, and that concerns me. Fountain Valley is being separated almost in half for other reasons, when this other committee said, 'No, keep it whole.' I'd hope you would consider that and go back to the committee's recommendations."

That move is seen as a benefit for First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen because the area of Fountain Valley going to her district is heavily Vietnamese. Nguyen—who helped create the successful plan that dictates next year's voting districts—will face re-election in 2012. Nguyen, who will now represent the portion of Fountain Valley north of Warner Avenue, said her office looked into the possibility of taking Fountain Valley as a whole into District 1, and reassured city residents that any of them can contact her office, regardless of where in the city they live.

"I have work to do in the city of Fountain Valley," Nguyen said. "It's not about the boundaries. I represent Fountain Valley with Supervisor Moorlach, and I'm willing to go to the city of Fountain Valley, so anyone who's a resident of Fountain Valley should feel free to call my office anytime."

In total, 12 speakers were heard during the public hearing, including several from Buena Park, which will also be divided between two districts, and two representatives of LULAC, which submitted an alternative plan just last week. Known as Plan 25, it would have kept all but three cities in the county intact, with only Anaheim, Irvine and Garden Grove divided.

"Plan 25 looks like a reasonable plan, even though we just received it," Supervisor Bill Campbell said. "I realize that it's not dramatically different from 21C that we adopted two weeks ago, particularly when it comes to allowing minority groups to have a voice. I commend LULAC for this redraw, and I only wish it had been submitted earlier."

District 5 Supervisor Patricia Bates encouraged those now living in divided cities to see the positives in having their cities represented by two supervisors.

"Having two supervisors is not a bad thing, especially when you get to controversial issues like annexation," Bates said. "I think it clearly shows that this is not a gerrymandered map. I believe that you're going to have more representation on this board for issues going forward. The overlapping is a good thing, so I will remain with 21C as my vote."