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(Cape Gazette) Kara Nuzback reports ~ Activist calls for transparency in redistricting - Senate leader expects change to come slowly
[Frank] Sims said legislators on both sides of the aisle have already pledged support for the resolution, including Rep. Earl Jaques, D-Glasgow, Rep. Deborah Hudson, R-Fairthorne, Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Glasgow and Sen. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, but no one has volunteered to sponsor it. “We’ve got to open the process, or for the next 10 years, people will not be represented,” said Sims, who serves on the civic league’s board of directors.
“People are nervous about this kind of change,” said Senate Majority Leader Patricia Blevins, D-Elsmere. Blevins said in the past two legislative sessions, she has attempted to introduce a bill to establish an independent redistricting commission. The bill was never put on the agenda.“The districts are intended to be for the benefit of the voters, not for the benefit of people in office,” Blevins said. She said it is important future redistricting take place more openly than in the past. Blevins said she knows there will not be time to pass the bill, fund and establish a commission before redistricting this year, but she wants the law on the books for the 2020 census.“It’s a change you don’t shove down people’s throats,” Blevins said.
...Sims said he is concerned Democrats will use redistricting to secure their incumbency by redrawing electoral lines in their favor, a process known as gerrymandering. “It makes our votes null and void,” Sims said. The former chairman of Delaware’s Independent Party filed a lawsuit against the Legislature in Superior Court in 2002, when the General Assembly failed to redraw district lines. Ultimately, electoral lines had to be redrawn, but Sims said, it was done behind closed doors.“Most people don’t have any idea this is going on,” Sims said. “The people need to be involved.”Sims’ resolution emphasizes an open and transparent process for redistricting involving public participation.
See: DE Way ~ Sims Finds Sponsorless Support For 146th General Assembly Redistricting Bill for more from the CLNCC working group and the draft of the bill.
Legislators should hang their heads in shame and refund their salaries if they cannot find a way to pass legislation immediately to utilize the independent redistricting commission for the current task.
ReplyDeleteDan Bockover
This is amazing. Gerrymandering is a large part of why our country is becoming so divided, partisan and bitter. Failing to support and pass a bill requiring an independent redistricting commission is one of the clearest demonstration that these legislators are in it only for themselves, are excessively power hungry, and don't care about the public.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that former sponsors would refuse to sponsor the bill for the 146th is disturbing to say the least. The public deserves this fight for transparency and fairness.
ReplyDeleteNancy Willing