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Conference Schedule

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

Representatives from the Rose Institute of State and Local Government will kick off the conference, giving a brief introduction to the Rose Institute of State and Local Government, outlining in broad strokes the key redistricting issues the conference will address, quickly walking through the schedule of the conference, and thanking our speakers and sponsors.

Speakers

Andrew E. Busch, Director, Rose Institute of State and Local Government

California has new statutory timelines for redistricting by counties and cities, which may pose practical and legal conflicts.  Those timelines are tied to receipt of the Census data, which is unexpectedly in flux.

In addition, California has different statutory timelines for counties, cities, school districts and special districts. Cities and counties now must also comply with new outreach rules and record-keeping requirements. This panel will discuss the timeline for release of the Census data and any associated legislative changes to accommodate delay,  spell out the redistricting timeline for attorneys, city managers, county administrative officers, special district general managers, and superintendents tasked with guiding the process to completion, highlight where the rules differ among each other and from ten years ago, and provide suggestions to facilitate compliance.  In addition, this panel will discuss brand new record-keeping rules and best practices to facilitate the task.

Speakers

Randi Johl, City Clerk

Randi Johl, City Clerk, Temecula & Legislative Lead, California City Clerks Association

Neal Kelley

Neal Kelley, Registrar of Voters, Orange County

Marguerite Leoni

Marguerite Leoni, J.D., Partner, Nielsen Merksamer

Shalice headshot

Shalice Tilton, Senior Consultant, National Demographics Corporation

Enacted in 2019, AB 849 imposes a whole new set of redistricting criteria on California cities and counties, which differ dramatically from those that governed the process ten years ago; from those governing the state independent commission; from those applicable to school districts and special districts; and from those that apply to local governments using independent commissions. The new requirements for cities and counties significantly restrict local discretion. This panel will spell out the different sets of rules for attorneys and others involved with redistricting, explore what the new rules mean for cities and counties, and discuss the areas and breadth of discretion that remain for those jurisdictions as compared to other jurisdictions.

Speakers

Nicholas Heidorn

Nicholas Heidorn, J.D., Principal, Heidorn Consulting

Justin Levitt

Justin Levitt, Ph.D., Vice President, National Demographics Corporation

ChrisSkinnell

Chris Skinnell, J.D., Partner, Nielsen Merksamer

Panelists will be available in Zoom breakout rooms to answer questions about the specifics of timeline and record keeping for first timers, cities and counties and schools and special districts, as well as the criteria for cities and counties and schools & special districts.

Speakers

Doug Johnson

Douglas Johnson, Ph.D., President, National Demographics Corporation

Marguerite Leoni, J.D., Partner, Nielsen Merksamer

ChrisSkinnell

Chris Skinnell, J.D., Partner, Nielsen Merksamer

Angelo Ancheta will deliver the keynote and be available for a live question-and-answer session.

Ancheta was a member and chair of the 2010 California Citizens Redistricting Commission. A civil rights lawyer and an academic, Ancheta was a professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law from 2005 to 2014 and has also taught at the Harvard Law School, the New York University School of Law, and the UCLA School of Law.

Speakers

Ancheta photo

Angelo Ancheta

New legislation allows local governments to delegate redistricting to advisory or independent commissions. And the state’s new redistricting criteria for cities and counties may encourage the use of independent or advisory redistricting commissions. This panel will discuss the legal rules for the organization and operation of commissions and how jurisdictions might evaluate these options. The panel members – all participants in independent or advisory commission efforts in 2011 – will share their thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of each system, and on the keys to success of their commissions.

Speakers

Ken Chawkins, Strategic Communicator Consultant

Doug Johnson

Douglas Johnson, Ph.D., President, National Demographics Corporation

Michelle Rubalcava

Michelle Rubalcava, J.D., Attorney, Nielsen Merksamer & Co-Chair, 2011 Advisory Redistricting Commission for the City of Sacramento

Sharon Spivak

Sharon Spivak, J.D., Senior Deputy City Attorney, City of San Diego

Panelists will be available in Zoom breakout rooms to answer questions about the specifics of timeline and record keeping for first timers, cities and counties and schools and special districts, as well as the criteria for cities and counties and schools & special districts.

Speakers

Melissa Kuehne

Melissa Kuehne, Leadership and Governance Manager, Institute for Local Government

Ryder Todd Smith, President, Tripepi Smith

Jonathan Stein, Executive Director, California Common Cause

With unavoidable complexity, frequent controversy, and now with new and conflicting rules and public expectations, the task of redistricting is daunting and can disrupt or even damage an elected body’s internal dynamics and the relationship between the elected and constituents. Alternatively, it can be a trust-building journey that brings a community together. Attorneys, consultants and senior staff who know the law but also have the benefit of practical tips for meeting legal requirements will be essential to a successful process. This discussion will cover managing public expectations, working with interest groups, timeline management, ensuring productive Council or Board dynamics, managing relationships between staff and elected officials, and best practices to achieve a defensible process and redistricting plan.

Speakers

Ginger Grimes

Ginger Grimes, Attorney, Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho

Doug Johnson

Douglas Johnson, Ph.D., President, National Demographics Corporation

Tara Schultz

Tara Schultz, Claremont City Manager

Harold Freiman

Harold M. Freiman, J.D., Partner, Lozano Smith

Conference organizers will facilitate small-group Zoom conversations among attendees.

Our Sponsors

Tripepi Smith
Nielsen Merksamer
National Demographics Corporation (NDC)
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