Portantino: 'Excited' About Redistricting Plan

State Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, plans to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but may have to do so in a proposed new congressional district that doesn't include his hometown.

But in an interview with Patch about a , Portantino said that he's "excited" by the prospect of running in a congressional district that would include much of the Eastern San Gabriel Valley.

Portantino was reacting to an story suggesting that he was "disappointed" by the state's recently released draft redistricting plan, which puts his hometown of La Cañada Flintridge in a district in which current congressman and fellow Democrat Adam Schiff would be all but certain to run.

Portantino had sent an e-mail to Altadena supporters in which he said that he was "disappointed for myself" with regard to the proposed redistricting.

Clarification

But on Monday, Portantino clarified his remark, saying he was referring to being unhappy that he would not have a chance to represent Altadena as a member of congress if the draft redistricting plan is finalized without any changes.

He also described the draft redistricting plan released on June 10 by a state redistricting commission as "in flux" and said he expects there could be major changes to the plan when the final districts are released in August.

If the draft plan were to be passed, Portantino would have to run in the "East San Gabriel-Covina" district, which comprises mainly towns that he has never represented in the state Assembly.

That district includes Baldwin Park, Covina, West Covina, El Monte, Irwindale, San Dimas, Azusa and parts of Glendora and La Verne -- towns he has not represented.

The proposed district would also include Duarte, southern Monrovia and an unincorporated area south of Monrovia, which Portantino does currently represent in the state Assembly.

The district could set up a contest between Portantino and U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, who currently resides in the proposed East San Gabriel district.  The district would lean Democratic, which would give Portantino an advantage, though he could easily be painted as an outsider, since he does not currently reside in any of the towns in the district.

Portantino said that he has been involved in many issues that involve the entire San Gabriel Valley, such as the extension of the Gold Line, and is confident he would be able to win over voters in the district.

"Those are communities I connect with very strongly," Portantino said.