David Brauer is right in correcting G.R. Anderson's assertion regarding the electoral footprint that the Kingfield precincts had on primary day. I myself think that the fundamental motives in the minds of the majority redistricting commissioners had to do with incumbency protection in the "four corners" - Wards 1,4,12, and 13 - and with an assertive reaction to the arriviste council members in the inner wards. Reinforcing the influence of the seventh ward - the "downtown" Ward - was also a deliberate choice that had a pernicious influence on several of the adjacent Wards.
I've been satisfying my curiosity about the core long-term voting population of the city and I'll have some systematic material about that ready in a few days, most likely on a website similar to the one I made available during the active life of the 2000 redistricting commission. What strikes me in the eighth ward is found in a comparison of the registration/2005 primary turnout and the long-term voting habits of the eighth ward's current precincts. There are as many long-term voters in 8-10 as there are in precincts 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3. 8-10 is at the base of a column of precincts that run along the east side of I35. The other three precincts are at the top end of the ward and include much of the Powderhorn area. The addition of 8-6 and 8-7 in Kingfield west of I35 roughly balances the relatively quiescent 8-4, 8-8 and 8-9 areas due south of Powderhorn, leaving 8-5's voters sandwiched between the northmost and southmost areas along the east side of the freeway. What is immediately apparent from the primary results, and regrettably predictably so, is that the core settlement of minority voters who were expected to elevate a person of color were outvoted by supporters of the two ladies and left with these two primary victors. The notion of a "minority majority opportunity" ward - advanced by the majority of the redistricting commission - has fallen victim to the grinding realities of underparticipation by the "minority" electorate. The voters in 8-5 and 8-10 south of 38th and east to Chicago will decide this matter, by and large, and none of us will know for sure to what degree race may have influence in these decisions. What is clear is that class has already made its point and that, I think, ought to be understood by the city generally as a legacy arranged for by the majority redistricting commissioners. Small wonder that I voted against this plan. Fred Markus, Phillips West 2000 redistricting commissioner REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
