By a unanimous vote, the 23 State of Jefferson County Committees have announced their strong opposition to Draper's 3;Way State split initiative, as proposed. Last week, Draper received news that his proposal to split California into three states, had qualified for the November ballot.
State of Jefferson (SOJ) encompasses twenty-three counties, from Mariposa in the south and Siskiyou to the North. State of Jefferson dba Citizens for Fair Representation is the largest and only movement in the state, seeking equal/fair representation for all citizens living in California's 58 County's.
California has the worst imbalance of representation in their state legislature of all 50 States. In May of 2017, Citizens for Fair Representation (CFR) filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Alex Padilla, for lack of representation and dilution of vote. In a hearing on June 14, in the United States Federal District Court, in Sacramento, Judge Kimberly Mueller, denied the states attorneys motion, to “dismiss with prejudice” CFR's case against Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
Judge Mueller has yet to rule on CFR's attorney's request, for their case to be heard before a 3;judge panel, as ruled in the case Shapiro v McManus. An action filed challenging the Constitutionality of reapportionment of Congressional and state legislature districts. Under Title 3, Section 2284, cases involving representation or dilution of vote cannot be heard by a single judge and must be heard before a 3-judge panel
Jefferson has always been about forming the 51st State and representation for all in California's 58 County's. In January 2016, twenty-one County's filed declarations with the California Secretary of State, seeking equal/fair representation and/or to separate (not secede) from the State of California. All went ignored by their elected representatives, leading CFR to take legal action.. Mariposa & Stanislaus joined SOJ this year, bringing the total to 23 Counties.
State of Jefferson is in favor of splitting California into smaller, separate state(s). However, Draper's initiative does nothing to resolve the imbalance of representation, not only within the boundaries he established for those in the 23 Jefferson Counties, but also those in Draper's two other proposed states.
Draper does not resolve the issue of the high costs incurred for candidates running for a state office. There are 11 counties in northern California, represented by (1) State Senator. Any incumbents and their opponents, must pay filing fees in each of those 11 county's in order to be on that county's election ballot. Compare this to Los Angeles County, with15 Senators representing (1) one single County and candidates only having to pay one filing fee. This deters many good people from running for office.
Draper is fully aware of SOJ's well established policy's for their new state - smaller government, part time legislature, fewer regulations, no corporate business tax, just to mention a few. A business friendly state, where the voices of the people will be equally represented, respected and heard. In no way will this be the case in Draper's plan, that includes Jefferson's 23 County's in the same state with the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County, Silicon Valley and Sacramento.
Response By Mark Baird, Jefferson Spokesperson
“California is irreparably broken. We need to start over. It is the only way to escape the utter lack of representation suffered by the citizens of Jefferson and citizens of California.”
“Tim Draper's 3-state initiative will not accomplish this! Draper failed to consult the people in the affected counties as to their wish to be included in one of his states constructs, where Jefferson has rallied popular support in every one of its 23 counties. We know the will of our citizens. Tim Draper and his paid minions, never asked.”
“Draper's initiative fails to consider that Congress must approve by majority vote, all Article 3, Section 3 splits. The prospect of three blue states is not very appealing to us, nor will it be to Congress. Jefferson, on the other hand, proposes breaking California into two parts. We propose the addition of only one new state with true Constitutional Republic and adequate representation, which will grow with population. We propose a State Senate with equal representation for our counties, as a check on power to our State Assembly.”
“Finally, Tim Draper proposes 3 states which would be dominated by the same urban counties that currently dominate California politics. WE WILL NOT SUBMIT TO CONTINUED TYRANNY by simply adding more deck chairs to the Titanic.”
“The people of Jefferson demand Liberty with adequate representation within a state of our own making and we will settle for nothing less. We the People of the State of Jefferson created government to secure out Liberty and our Rights. We will fight to secure that Liberty. The Time Has Come for 51 States.”
Contact
Terry Gherardi
State of Jefferson dba Citizens for Fair Representation
530-677-4294
[email protected]
