Republican Senator Ted Gaines and his wife GOP Assembly member Beth Gaines live in the Sacramento-area city of Roseville. The new political maps put her in a fairly safe seat, and him in a district that includes another GOP incumbent Senator. He said his home is just outside a new district that includes most of his current constituents. “About I would say a quarter to a half-a-mile off. I mean, it’s very close.”
So Ted Gaines looking for an apartment in the new district and Beth Gaines would stay in their home. He said some of their kids might actually like the arrangement.
“I’ve got six kids,” Gaines said. “I’ve got four that are college-age. Actually, I think some of them would love to live with Dad so they didn’t have to be close to the younger ones.”
Lawmakers used to draw the maps, keeping a close eye on incumbents. But for the first time this year, a voter-created Citizens’ Commission had the job and incumbency wasn’t considered.
