I'm happy to see that a state senator is taking some remedial action on this redistricting matter. List members may remember my opposition to Phyllis Kahn's attempt to move up the next municipal election two years before council terms conclude and espousing No. 1 below as the real remedy.
But, as a former St. Paul Charter Commissioner who redistricted his own city wards, I have to question the wisdom of No. 2 (which should be unnecessary if No. 1 were to go into effect). Allowing cities to redistrict before the state does could create real chaos in the already confusing overlapping of legislative, ward and precinct boundaries at the municipal level. If the same general population distribution rules apply at all levels, the cities ward and precinct boundaries should follow, not precede, the legislative redistricting process since the state's plan always supercedes local lines. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -------- >From Sen. Linda Higgins: Regardless of this (redistricting) lawsuit, I think there are things that should happen so it doesn't occur again: 1. Change the charter to 4-4-2 terms, like the MN Senate has. This could be done in two ways: the charter commission acting to put the issue before the voters or the council enacting it on a 13-0 vote. 2. Change state law to allow municipalities to redistrict when they're ready, rather than be required to wait till after the legislature redistricts. Had this law not been in effect, the council could have run in new wards in 2001. I'm putting in a bill to do this. 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. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
