Gerrymandering always makes me nervous. But your comment:
"I'd hope that it inspires more grass-roots attention to local politics," is intriguing and I think it would work. Instead of just saying, "will this candidate help you in your district," we'd be forcing citizens to say, "is he up to the task of appointing a senator?"
These are exciting ideas, fellow FReeper!
That's why they call it a "ship of state." You turn the rudder now, but it takes miles before the turn is noticable. Vote for state assemblymen and state senators now, and eventually you will get a federal senator to your liking.
-PJ