Full list of names:
http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/demographics_cities.pdf
http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2010/11/12/36-potential-redistricting-commissioners/
The 36 finalists — 12 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 12 who are either independents or belong to a minor party — do have some standouts:
Paul McKaskle, an independent, is perhaps the most seasoned; the retired dean of the University of San Francisco School of Law served twice as an adviser to the California Supreme Court when it intervened to draw political maps.
Vincent Barabba, a Republican, served as director of the U.S. Census under President Richard Nixon and later was appointed again by President Jimmy Carter.
William Hamm, an independent, served as Legislative Analyst for the state from 1977 to 1986.
Victoria Aguayo Schupbach, a Democrat, is a former regional director of the National Labor Relations Board.
Many others in the final pool are college professors, civil servants, or attorneys. Others are, well, just folks who seem to be interested (count co-owner of the Sacramento area bookstore The Avid Reader Stanley Forbes in this list, as well as Sacramento Press Club treasurer Kathleen Beasley who — full disclosure — I know from my time as president of the organization).
Demographically speaking, most remaining applicants are either white or Latino; most are in Los Angeles County; and most have an income between $75,000 and $250,000.
Makes you wonder how objective the selection process was - and just how objective the redistricting process is going to be.