DeSaulnier Headed To Tri-Valley

A Contra Costa County state senator is headed to the Tri-Valley.

State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier will run in 2012 in a new district under a proposal unveiled today by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

The Concord Democrat's current district encompasses most of Contra Costa County.

Under the new proposal, DeSaulnier's district would have the western and eastern edges of the county shaved off. In their place would be the communities of Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore.

The district would retain San Ramon, Danville, Walnut Creek, Clayton, Concord, Lamorinda, Pittsburg, Antioch and Oakley.

"I love my old district, but I've spent a lot of time in the Tri-Valley and look forward to representing them," said DeSaulnier.

Pleasant Hill and Martinez, however, have been moved out of the district into a new one that includes Benicia, Fairfield, Vallejo, Vacaville, Napa, Davis and Woodland.

Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder said he was "disappointed and a bit shocked" that the county seat would be carved out of a district representing a major portion of Contra Costa County.

He also noted the city has had a longstanding relationship with DeSaulnier.

"We've built a good relationship with him. We'll now have to build new relationships," Schroder said.

DeSaulnier said he found it odd that Martinez and Pleasant Hill were being snatched by another district.

"It's too bad. We have some communities of common interest being split up," he said.

DeSaulnier, who switched from Republican to Democrat about a decade ago, noted that there are 14 percent more registered Democrats than registered Republicans in the new district.

DeSaulnier also has served as a Concord city councilman and a Contra Costa County supervisor.

The redistricting commission released its final preliminary maps this morning. Members will take public input for two weeks and are scheduled to approve the maps Aug. 15.

The commission is drawing up new districts for California congressional seats as well as the state Assembly, state Senate and state Board of Equalization.