Keep Placer County's voice; stop governor's power grab

California voters created our independent redistricting system to make sure politicians couldn't pick their own voters. It was built on fairness, transparency and public trust, and it has been recognized across the country as a model for democracy done right. Now, Governor Newsom wants to dismantle that system and spend millions of taxpayer dollars on a special election to hand power back to politicians. That isn't protecting democracy. It's undoing a safeguard that voters themselves put in place to keep politics out of the process. The governor claims this move is necessary "because of what Texas is doing." But the facts don't support that comparison. In Texas, a federal court found that certain districts may have violated the Voting Rights Act, which triggered a legal process under Texas law. In California, there has been no court order, no finding of illegal maps and no legal requirement to change anything. What's happening here is not about the law, it's about politics. The people in Placer County understand why keeping our independence and wanting local representation matters. Our community is not Sacramento, and we've worked hard to make sure it doesn't become Sacramento. Where Sacramento has allowed rising crime, homelessness and red tape to overwhelm families and small businesses, Placer County has taken a different path. We have made deliberate choices to fund law enforcement and fire protection so our neighborhoods are safe. We have worked to create a business-friendly environment that attracts investment, jobs and opportunity. And we have kept government functional and focused on serving residents rather than growing bureaucracy. Placer County deserves a representative who shares our values – not a Sacramento politician who doesn't understand our priorities. Congressman Kevin Kiley has delivered real results for our community, securing tens of millions of dollars for local projects like Blue Oaks Boulevard, improved transportation for people with disabilities, new radios for first responders and, most notably, expanding Highway 65. Gerrymandered lines would strip us of that commitment, weakening our voice and tying our future to Sacramento insiders. The truth is simple: If this plan succeeds, Placer County will lose its independence. It will become easier for Sacramento politicians to dictate how our county is represented, even if it means ignoring the needs of our residents. That is not fairness. That is not democracy. And it is not what California voters demanded when they approved independent redistricting more than a dozen years ago. Placer County has built one of the safest, strongest, most desirable communities in the state because we have chosen to put people before politics – and our leaders throughout government follow that principle. We should be strengthening fair representation, not tearing it apart for short-term political gain. If California truly wants to remain a model for the nation, we should be protecting our independent system and leading the call for fair maps everywhere. For Placer County, and for every community that values local control and public trust, the message must be clear: Sacramento politicians cannot be allowed to redraw our future. Bonnie Gore represents the First Supervisorial District, which includes most of Roseville and parts of unincorporated Placer County.