Local Official Seeks To Split California

   RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- Thirteen mostly conservative California counties would break away to create a 51st state known as South California under a proposal by a local elected official.

   Republican Jeff Stone has asked fellow members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to support a motion to bring together officials from the 13 counties to discuss the idea. A vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

   Stone says California is too big to govern, which has led the state to raid local government coffers because of runaway spending.

   Stone's version of South California would not include Los Angeles County. Instead, it would encompass coastal Orange and San Diego counties, and inland Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino and Tulare counties. It would have a part-time Legislature and no term limits.

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