Acosta’s Santa Ana Remap Plan: Carve Up His Rival’s Ward

The Santa Ana City Council must reduce the number of wards from seven to six before the next election, and John Acosta knows which one he would like to see carved up: that of political rival Dan Griset.

Griset’s Ward 5, which includes the Washington Square neighborhood and territory to the west and south of the Civic Center, is gobbled up by three other wards--including Acosta’s--on Acosta’s proposed political map of the city.

“He said during his Assembly race that it’s either up or out for him,” said Acosta, referring to Griset’s unsuccessful campaign against Richard E. Longshore (R-Santa Ana) in 1986. “He didn’t go up, so I figured it was time for him to get out.”

Acosta and Griset spar frequently during council sessions and are often on opposite sides of important votes, with Acosta on the short end more often than not. The stocky, crew-cut Griset held out little hope that the arithmetic would change during this battle: “John Acosta’s plan won’t get accepted.”

Into Compliance With Charter

The council begins discussions Monday on redrawing the ward boundaries to bring them into compliance with a city charter amendment passed by voters in 1986. The mayor will now be elected by popular vote rather than by the council; to maintain an odd number of council members (including the mayor), the number of wards was reduced to six.

Council members must live in the wards they represent, but they are elected citywide. If the city ever changes to an election-by-ward system--a proposal to do just that was narrowly defeated in 1986--the new boundaries could become crucial to each member’s political career.

Griset--whose term expires this year along with those of Acosta, Vice Mayor Patricia A. McGuigan and Wilson B. Hart--said the new boundaries “are not material issues in the life of this city as long as there are citywide elections.”

Griset said he may have “a thought or two” before the redistricting is over, but he would not draw up his own map.

“I’ll be looking forward to the council meeting . . . and expect to review the proposals any council members may have,” he said.

City Clerk Janice C. Guy said she has asked the council to schedule a public hearing for June 6 on the redistricting plans--leaving the council just enough time to adopt final boundaries before the nominating period for the November election begins July 18.

Acosta, who has said he will run for mayor against current Mayor Dan Young, is the only council member so far to unveil his plan.

“We always give people very little time to give their input,” Acosta said. “They walk away feeling shortchanged. If we can bring it up front early . . . they won’t say this is another of those slam-dunk, down-their-throat issues.”

McGuigan said she also has a redistricting plan but will not make it public until Monday “at least.”

“Nobody’s seen this one except the clerk (Guy),” McGuigan said. “I’m not making any comment on the whole thing until I see the whole picture.”

Young said he had done “a little number-crunching” on three redistricting alternatives, but none of them worked out.

“I’m not sure I understand all the rules pertaining to reapportionment,” he said. “We’ll get a presentation on Monday from the city clerk as to what those rules are, and that will probably begin the creative process.”

Young, an ally of Griset on the council, said he had not seen either the Acosta or McGuigan plan but would welcome anyone’s plan that complies with redistricting rules.

“If somebody’s done some homework already, that’s great,” Young said. “I’d love to see something . . . that makes everyone happy.”

Guy will review the council members’ proposals to make sure they are legal. The ward must be contiguous, bounded by natural boundaries or street lines wherever possible and be as nearly equal in population as possible, with no more than a 5% deviation among them, she said.

Although state Department of Finance figures indicate that Santa Ana’s population has grown to more than 225,000, the 1980 U.S. Census figure of 203,713 will be used in dividing the city into six wards.