To the community,

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 23 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 counties.

California has the worst imbalance of representation in their state Legislature of all 50 states. In May 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 U.S. District Court in Sacramento Judge Kimberly Mueller denied the state/s attorneys motion to “dismiss with prejudice” CFR’s case against Padilla.

Mueller has yet to rule on CFR’s attorney’s request for their case to be heard before a three-judge court, 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 three-judge court.

Jefferson has always been about forming the 51st State and representation for all in California’s 58 counties. In January 2016, 21 counties 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 and 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 State senator. Any incumbents and/or their opponents, must pay filing fees in each of those 11 counties in order to have their candidates statement appear on the voters sample ballot pamphlet. Compare this to Los Angeles County, with 15 Senators representing one single county and candidates only having to pay one 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, to mention just 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 counties in the same state with the greater San Francisco Oakland Bay Area, Santa Clara County, Silicon Valley and Sacramento.

Terry Gherardi, State of Jefferson