‘Six Californias’ idea may make 2016 ballot, campaign says
Venture capitalist Timothy Draper of Menlo Park plans to submit a petition to put an initiative on the 2016 ballot to split California into six states.
A venture capitalist Tuesday plans to submit what he says are enough petition signatures to qualify an initiative for the 2016 ballot that would split California into six states.
The Six Californias idea needs 808,000 signatures by Friday to qualify for the ballot in two years.
The idea is the brainchild of Timothy Draper, a venture capitalist from Menlo Park -- or as he hopes to some day call it, the state of Silicon Valley.
Draper said he will file the signatures in Sacramento on Tuesday morning, although state officials still need to review the petitions to ensure the initiative can qualify. Even if it does, and voters approve the initiative, it would need congressional approval to take effect -- a long-shot scenario that has prompted plenty of eye-rolling.
“This is a colossal and divisive waste of time, energy and money,†said Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for a campaign group opposing the initiative.
Still, Draper has sunk $2 million into signature gathering for the proposal. He maintains it will break bureaucratic gridlock in Sacramento (in the proposed state of North California) and attract more business.
“California needs a reboot,†Draper’s campaign said in a statement on Monday. “With six Californias, we can refresh our government.â€
Follow @chrismegerian for more updates from Sacramento.
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