I sometime wonder if the redistricting commissioners had an opportunity to do their work differently based on what has happen since submitting their final map.
Statistical Breakdown New Minneapolis Redistricting Plan http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/redistricting/20020430planstats.asp ************************************************************* Two suits may change city elections By Scott Russell Under-the-radar legal wrangling could force early elections or alter new wards This is one of those rare Novembers where in Minneapolitans do not go to the polls to vote. However, political intrigue is afoot as two lawsuits quietly move forward, challenging recent ward redistricting and the timing of the next election. Behind-the-scenes, expert testimony and depositions have been taken for early 2004 court battles. People are asking questions that go to the core of our democracy. Green Party City Councilmembers Dean Zimmermann (6th Ward) and Natalie Johnson Lee (5th Ward) and others are suing the city to redraw ward boundary maps in place for the 2005 Minneapolis elections. They fault the political process used to draw the map that they say contains racial "packing" and "cracking" and creates odd-shaped wards that violate the charter -- all points the city contests. The city's map also bumps Zimmermann into Ward 9, where he would run against incumbent DFLer Gary Schiff. Another group wants the map Zimmermann's group is fighting to be used sooner. Minneapolis DFL State Rep. Phyllis Kahn, Southwest residents Mark Kaplan and Ann Berget, and others are suing to force a city election before 2005. They say the current wards, based on the 1990 Census, have grown so unequal in population that they subvert the Constitution's one-person, one-vote principle. http://www.swjournal.com/display/inn_news/news04.txt Other websites on this issue: Friends for redistricting evenly and equitably http://www.freempls.org/lawsuit.php City of Minneapolis website on redistricting http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/redistricting *********************************************************** 2002 Redistricting Commission Members Redistricting Commission Chair Parker Trostel - Ward 7, Precinct 7 3349 St. Louis Avenue, 55416 612-926-7746 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Charter Commission Appointments Steve Claypatch - Democratic-Farmer-Labor - Ward 4, Precinct 7 4014 Russell Avenue N, 55412 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Everett Pettiford - Democratic-Farmer-Labor - Ward 4, Precinct 5 4558 Oliver Avenue N, 55412 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Karen Collier - Independence - Ward 13, Precinct 3 4201 Upton Avenue S, 55410 612-922-1998 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Todd Ferrara - Independence - Ward 13, Precinct 2 3825 Upton Avenue S, 55410 612-824-2656 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Michael Finch - Republican - Ward 13, Precinct 11 5917 Girard Avenue S, 55419 612-861-4704 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lyall Schwarzkopf - Republican - Ward 11, Precinct 5 4840 Bloomington Avenue S, 55417 612-824-9293 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Council Majority Appointment Rick Stafford - Democratic-Farmer-Labor - Ward 9, Precinct 4 3154 Bloomington Avenue S #202, 55407 612-728-4995 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Council Minority Appointment Fred Markus - Green Party - Ward 10, Precinct 5 115 West 31st Street, #2007, 55407 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Park Board Appointments Scott Neiman - Ward 11, Precinct 6 5705 Wentworth Avenue S, 55419 612-866-7024 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tony Scallon - Ward 9, Precinct 9 3716 40th Avenue S, 55406 612-729-1613 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- __________________________________________________________ Sign-up for your own personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup CareerBuilder.com has over 400,000 jobs. Be smarter about your job search http://corp.mail.com/careers REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
