Fred's post brings to mind something I found myself thinking about this
morning as I sat through the elections committee vote on the redistricting
plan. (Talk about surreal! No matter how eloquent or cogent the arguments
against this plan, the DFL proponents had this non responsive, "shove it
through" mentality that was republicanesque. Schiff and Johnson Lee both gave
very good speeches).
My feeling is that the composition of the redistricting commission was
fundamentally flawed. I know people have already talked about how non
representative it was, but I am wondering if it also wasn't legally invalid
as well. One would have to do some research on what the legal requirements
are. Well, I guess I could research it but does anyone else have any thoughts
on this?
Linda Mann
Kingfield
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Remember well if you will that five Redistricting
Commissioners created the ward map that had its
precinct lines drawn today: three Dflers
(Commissioners Stafford, Claypatch, Pettiford) and two
Independence Party representatives (Commissioners
Collier, Ferrara). The two IR representatives
(Commisioners Finch, Schwarzkopf) then voted for this
done deal as did the chair (Commissioner Trostel). I
cast the sole dissenting vote on final passage but
signed the final product as a gesture of respect for
the legislative process.
We Commissioners as a body didn't see the actual map
until 15 minutes into the decision meeting and some
minor changes were then made using live GIS imaging
for the only time in the life of the Redistricting
Commission and only for this essentially cosmetic
purpose. Any notion that there was open dialogue in
the crafting of this product would surely be "gilding
the lily".
Fred Markus, Horn Terrace, Ward Ten, Redistricting
Commissioner
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