The City of Moorpark has formally opposed a plan to place the city in a congressional district separate from most of Ventura County.

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, a 14-member independent board, is redrawing district maps in response to new demographic and population data collected in the federal census.

The commission was created after California voters passed Proposition 11 in 2008, also known as the Voters First Act, which was intended to combat gerrymandering by taking redistricting powers out of the hands of politicians.

In a letter addressed to the commission and dated June 27, Moorpark Mayor Janice Parvin said the first draft map—released early last month— places the cities of Moorpark and Simi Valley in a district that includes Santa Clarita, the Antelope Valley and parts of the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County.

“ The City of Moorpark would like to go on record in opposition to any congressional redistricting plan that would divide Ventura County,” Parvin stated. “This plan is not in the best interests of either city or Ventura County.”

Although Moorpark voters will still be represented by the 13-term U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Camarillo) under the new plan, the biggest change will be the fact that the city would no longer be included in a congressional district with the rest of East County Ventura.

Camarillo and Thousand Oaks, two of the county’s larger cities, would be in a new district that includes Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Santa Barbara, which are currently represented by Lois Capps (D-Port Hueneme).

The new district would also include the entire city of Ventura, which is currently divided between Capps and Gallegly.

The change represents a major shift in partisan lines, because Gallegly’s 24th District is traditionally a GOP stronghold whereas Oxnard and western Ventura County usually lean Democratic.

As for Senate districts, Moorpark would remain within the state Senate district represented by Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark). But that redrawn district would gain West County residents and include more Democrats than Republicans, a shift in current party lines.

The Assembly district represented by deployed Assemblymember Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) would remain largely unchanged.

“The County of Ventura and the individual cities of Ventura County have a commonality of interest far more than with Santa Clarita, the Antelope Valley and the San Fernando Valley, and this should be respected when considering Congressional, as well as State Assembly and Senatorial Districts,” Parvin wrote in the letter. “On behalf of the City Council and the citizens of Moorpark, I am asking that you keep all of Ventura County together in the same congressional district.”

California will finalize its new district boundaries by Aug. 15, according to state officials.

Each district must have an equal number of residents and be physically connected.

Moorpark, with a population of 34,421 according to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau tallies, geographically falls within eastern Ventura County.

Having just closed the first round of public comments June 28, the citizen commission will release its second round of draft maps on July 14.

Roxanne Estrada contributed to this report.