Heidi Mauer doesn't like politics. She nearly failed her high school government class.
But Mauer, 51, is one of hundreds of Ventura County residents who in recent weeks have blanketed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office with letters and phone calls, urging him to sign a bill that would strengthen rent-control laws at mobile home parks across California.
"We do what we can -- write our public officials, stuff fliers into mailboxes," said Mauer, a 25-year resident of Ojai Oaks Village Mobile Home Park. "I learned a lot of stuff I never wanted to know."
The Ventura County coalition is part of an intense statewide lobbying effort urging Schwarzenegger to sign AB 1542, by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa).
Schwarzenegger has until Sunday to sign or veto the legislation, or allow it to become law by doing nothing. On Wednesday, the governor's staff said he hadn't taken a position on the bill, which pits park owners' rights against laws that protect valuable affordable housing.
"He likes to sit down and review everything as he is preparing to go through all the bills," said a spokeswoman, who did not want to be identified. "Until then, he's undecided."
Evans' legislation would allow local governments to weigh in when a mobile home park owner seeks to subdivide a park property and convert lots to private ownership. Under current law, local regulatory bodies have little say over the merits of a park conversion.
It also would keep local rent-control ordinances in place for tenants who chose not to buy the lot under their mobile homes. Current law invalidates local rent ordinances once a single unit is converted to private ownership.
The bill is supported by a broad network of mobile home residents, local governments and poverty law advocates, who argue it is needed to preserve housing options for low- and moderate-income people, particularly seniors.
Last month, the state AARP chapter added the backing of its 3.2 million members, pointing out that more than 50% of mobile home residents are older than 50.
"Mobile homes have traditionally provided affordable housing to people who would normally be priced out of any type of ownership," the AARP said in an appeal to Schwarzenegger.
But opposition has also been formidable.
Western Manufactured Housing Communities Assn., an industry group, has protested the proposed changes as unnecessary. The 1995 state legislation that permitted conversions balanced the rights of both park owners and tenants, said Catherine Borg, the group's lobbyist.
