Category: Governor, LocalTags: Proposition 11, Nov. 4 election, Arnold SchwarzeneggerA group of leaders and law enforcement officials from Southern California made their push for Proposition 11 Wednesday, saying redistricting reform would help law enforcement have a bigger voice in Sacramento.

"As a County Sheriff, I know firsthand how state budget stalemates and the dysfunction in our Legislature impacts public safety," said Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca in a press release. "Prop. 11 will help end that gridlock and dysfunction in state government and give power back to voters to vote out elected officials when they do not produce results."

Baca was joined at a pro-11 event in Los Angeles on Wednesday by City Controller Laura Chick, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, and the presidents of several peace officer unions in the Los Angeles area.

The group noted that over 1,700 organizations and individuals, including many in public safety, have endorsed the measure. Proposition 11's principal backers are Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Common Cause, and the state AARP.

Paul Hefner, a spokesman for an anti-11 group, called the event little more than a photo op.

"Funny, they don't ever seem to trot out the oil companies and Wall Street executives who are paying the bills - and who want more power for themselves," Hefner, of Citizens for Accountability, said in an email to PolitickerCA.com.

"And they never explain how giving most communities no voice at all when districts are drawn is a way to make government more accountable, or how imposing a two-thirds vote requirement on redistricting plans will give us anything but more government gridlock," he added.