Certainly not our current State Senator, Tom Harman, he’s term limited out. But, with the changes in electoral boundaries approved this week, the ultimate outcome is even less certain than it would have been.

Senator Harman’s 35th Senatorial District currently includes Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Newport Beach, Rossmoor, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Seal Beach, Westminster, and Santa Ana.

According to the final report and maps adopted Monday by the Citizens Redistricting Commission, the new state senatorial district representing West Orange County is SD 34 which “is based on nesting AD [Assembly District] 69 and AD 72 [West OC] and includes western Orange County and a portion of eastern Los Angeles County. Cities in this district include Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Fountain Valley, Westminster, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and portions of the cities of Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Orange and Long Beach to achieve population equality. This district also includes other distinct communities of Rossmoor, Sunset Beach and Midway City.”

The Commission’s report continues “This district includes several different communities, pairing a primarily north coastal Orange County area with Little Saigon and most of the community in Santa Ana and central Anaheim that share similar socio-economic characteristics.”

We are not aware of any officially announced candidates for the new SD in next June’s primary, but there is considerable speculation that one candidate will be the Current Assemblyman for much of the same area, none other than Jim Silva. Earlier this week, OC180NEWS asked Silva what he thought about the new electoral districts.

“I am deeply disappointed that the commission decided to split the city of Huntington Beach into two Assembly Districts and two Senate districts,” said Silva, “A well-established coastal city, known as ‘Surf City USA,’ Huntington Beach undoubtedly meets the definition of a ‘community of interest.’ It is unfortunate the commission does not see it that way.”

Silva isn’t the only Republican not entirely happy with the new districts. In fact, there is considerable speculation that the GOP will either launch a legal challenge to the new maps, and/or try for an outcome more to their liking by way of the referendum process. But, if they are going to file a legal complaint, they don’t have long in which to do it.

Any challenges must go to the California Supreme Court and must be filed by Thursday, September 29, 2011. The Supreme Court indicated that this deadline will enable resolution of any legal challenges in time for the June 5, 2012 California Primary.

If the new lines are not changed by either referendum or court action, Silva will have new constituents to canvass if he wants to win the new senate district. Assemblyman Jim Silva currently represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Anaheim, Cypress, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, Stanton, Sunset Beach and Westminster.

Thus, Silva does not currently represent residents of Santa Ana, Orange, or Long Beach. He will need to introduce himself and sell his conservative Republican perspective in these communities.