By Kelli Lundgren
We admit it, Represent Me Utah! is a newbie at this legislative thing, even at political activism in general. Last year when we began our plight, we learned a lot about Utah’s political process during the redrawing of voter boundaries. We had the pleasure to meet and get to know several of our state’s leaders and other political activists, both those we agreed with and disagreed with. We gained respect for several of these individuals.
We also gained heartburn from the redistricting process and its unjustness in Utah and throughout the country. So with this burning in our hearts, we’re continuing our pursuit of democracy in Utah in 2012; Q, Jenny, Sue, Sarge, Kim and Kelli.
Our goal this year is to increase Utah’s voting percentage to 50% of all adult Utah citizens (not just registered voters) in November’s general election. This figure dipped down to around 34 to 36% in 2010. Utah comes close to the bottom of the pile in voter participation. I can speculate many reasons for this. Yet if more voters voted, we would have a better balance in Utah’s government, a.k.a. “Why Utah’s Republican supermajority government doesn’t want to see more voters voting.”
Yet Represent Me Utah! is driven and members are attempting our goal of increased citizen participation. That’s why we are opposing Rep. Kraig Powell’s HB 253 Voter Registration Amendment, which will remove registered voters off of voter rolls if they are inactive. Counties already separate “active” from “inactive,” and from “removable.” As of this writing, HB 253 unfortunately passed through House committee with partisan votes of 6 to 4; Republicans for, Democrats against. It’s on its way to the House floor.
Ironically, time and money are already being spent to qualify a voter inactive, so it takes no effort or money to simply keep them inactive until they choose to participate. 230,000 registered voters are listed as inactive, and according to HB 253, they will be removed from the list if the bill passes and passes legal muster. “A voter is responsible to vote,” I paraphrase Rep. James Dunnigan, “If they don’t vote, they should be removed from voter lists.”
A cycle perpetuates itself. Utah used to have extremely high voter participation. In the mid-1970’s, our state headed conservative in its leadership, and voters stopped voting. So for years, when Republicans redistricted to dilute “the other side’s” votes, when caucuses tightened their rules so only a fraction of “active” members of each political party chose candidates to run for office, the 50% of Utah’s independent voters and many of Utah’s moderate Republican voters began to get shut out of the process. Now we really think we are shut out. So now Republican legislators think it’s a good idea to remove 230,000 inactive voters. And the cycle continues.
Represent Me Utah! wants to break this cycle. Did you know that Utah’s registered independents/unaffiliated account for more Utah voters than Democrats and Republicans combined? We have the largest unaffiliated percentage in the country.
If the unaffiliated block of voters gets out to vote, along with ALL Republican voters, and ALL Democratic voters, our government would look much different. But we all have to vote. Republicans and Democrats, please participate in caucuses to bring good candidates into the primary and general elections. Independents and other political parties, try to bring candidates to the general election too. (To find out how to get involved in a caucus or affiliate with a party, go to www.RepresentMeUtah.org)
Represent Me Utah! is feeling a little Don Quixote-esque. But one thing for certain is we haven’t given up on our state. And we don’t want other citizens to give up either. We’re in this for democracy. We’re in it to get voters out to vote. I can’t think of a better cause because a strong democracy affects every other concern we may have; environment, education, economy, fiscal responsibility, and equal rights for all. Let's work on an equal say for all, then we can have a better say in these other issues.
www.RepresentMeUtah.org
Near-future topic for our blog: Utah’s States Rights Focus, and why, if Mitt Romney becomes president, states rights will become a moot point.
Showing posts with label redistricting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label redistricting. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, December 12, 2011
Embarassing Tidbits!
By Kelli Lundgren
Here is the email message I sent to Senator Davis that the GOP is up in arms over:
--
Sent October 5, 2011
Hi Senator Davis,
Where do you stand on McAdams' Compromise Map, the one with the revisions to keep Utah County cities together? Are you still wanting the donut hole map? If, say, 100 citizens showed up on Friday to suggest a better map; do you think we should try to push the fair map, the donut hole map; or McAdams if it has a better chance?
McAdams' map: http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-sen-mcadams-06-10411
Thanks for all you have done on the committee.
Kelli
Kelli Lundgren
RepresentMeUtah!
801-915-7515
----
This email correspondence had nothing to do with a rally as was suggested in the Salt Lake Tribune (GOP: Democrats are hypocrites on redistricting, Dec. 10, 2011). It had to do with Represent Me Utah! preparing for an upcoming legislative redistricting committee meeting after the committee surprised citizens and reform groups with a never-before-seen U.S. Congressional Map.
Astonishingly, just a few weeks earlier, the legislative redistricting committee discarded six map finalists, selected after months of work, including one last doughnut hole map, and replaced all with the surprise map. In my message to Senator Davis, I was asking him as a committee member if he would be receptive to a "100 in-person" plea at the next public committee meeting to ask the redistricting committee to compromise, to vote for a modified "pizza slice" plan drawn by Senator McAdams. I asked a Democrat, Davis, because he had wanted a doughnut hole map previously. I asked him if a compromise map would have a "better chance" to receive a "yes" vote by committee members (Republican and Democratic). Davis' response could have been: The Democrats were sticking with a doughnut hole map proposal without compromise. But RMU needed their support on any compromise. The bigger feat for RMU was support from Republicans.
In the end, Republicans rejected the compromise map and all U.S. Congressional map submissions that met the request of the majority of citizens. (The majority of citizens, both urban and rural, favored a doughnut hole plan based on our analysis of public meetings and media polls.)
Before all this came down, RMU had endorsed House and Senate maps from Republicans Fred Cox and Wayne Harper.
Represent Me Utah! wasn't doing any dirty work for the Democrats. Contrarily, we were asking for the Democrats' help. Any help that meets the overall desire of citizens is good help, no matter which political party it comes from.
The GOP's spin on my email is certainly interesting. I'm wondering why only one? Why not list all my emails to all the Republicans and Democrats on the committee and in the legislative body? I certainly received finger cramps in the last days.
Kelli Lundgren
Here is the email message I sent to Senator Davis that the GOP is up in arms over:
--
Sent October 5, 2011
Hi Senator Davis,
Where do you stand on McAdams' Compromise Map, the one with the revisions to keep Utah County cities together? Are you still wanting the donut hole map? If, say, 100 citizens showed up on Friday to suggest a better map; do you think we should try to push the fair map, the donut hole map; or McAdams if it has a better chance?
McAdams' map: http://www.redistrictutah.com/maps/congress-sen-mcadams-06-10411
Thanks for all you have done on the committee.
Kelli
Kelli Lundgren
RepresentMeUtah!
801-915-7515
----
This email correspondence had nothing to do with a rally as was suggested in the Salt Lake Tribune (GOP: Democrats are hypocrites on redistricting, Dec. 10, 2011). It had to do with Represent Me Utah! preparing for an upcoming legislative redistricting committee meeting after the committee surprised citizens and reform groups with a never-before-seen U.S. Congressional Map.
Astonishingly, just a few weeks earlier, the legislative redistricting committee discarded six map finalists, selected after months of work, including one last doughnut hole map, and replaced all with the surprise map. In my message to Senator Davis, I was asking him as a committee member if he would be receptive to a "100 in-person" plea at the next public committee meeting to ask the redistricting committee to compromise, to vote for a modified "pizza slice" plan drawn by Senator McAdams. I asked a Democrat, Davis, because he had wanted a doughnut hole map previously. I asked him if a compromise map would have a "better chance" to receive a "yes" vote by committee members (Republican and Democratic). Davis' response could have been: The Democrats were sticking with a doughnut hole map proposal without compromise. But RMU needed their support on any compromise. The bigger feat for RMU was support from Republicans.
In the end, Republicans rejected the compromise map and all U.S. Congressional map submissions that met the request of the majority of citizens. (The majority of citizens, both urban and rural, favored a doughnut hole plan based on our analysis of public meetings and media polls.)
Before all this came down, RMU had endorsed House and Senate maps from Republicans Fred Cox and Wayne Harper.
Represent Me Utah! wasn't doing any dirty work for the Democrats. Contrarily, we were asking for the Democrats' help. Any help that meets the overall desire of citizens is good help, no matter which political party it comes from.
The GOP's spin on my email is certainly interesting. I'm wondering why only one? Why not list all my emails to all the Republicans and Democrats on the committee and in the legislative body? I certainly received finger cramps in the last days.
Kelli Lundgren
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Governor Herbert: Please Veto this Last Minute Messy Map
By Kelli Lundgren
Hours of closed-door Republican caucus meetings on Monday to finalize Utah's redistricting maps delivered two surprise congressional maps. The first, a completely new map never introduced to the minority party or the public until that day, with Republicans claiming it was a modified citizen’s map, a Garber map. Garber was the first to deny it looked anything like his map, stating the only commonality was Utah’s state outline. The rest of everybody only needed a visual to concur.
The second map, SB3002, introduced that day eventually passed through the House and Senate. It was presented to Democrats and the public between 7:30 and 8 p.m. It looks similar to the map the Senate passed two weeks earlier, with the House realizing any map they present to the Senate needs to be similar to the Senate approved map, or else it will go back to the drawing board. Even that Senate map was a last minute surprise map replacing the six finalist maps voted on by the Legislative Redistricting Committee.
So SB3002 is now waiting on only a signature from Governor Gary Herbert to be implemented for the next ten years. And it is a messy map.
Outside of all the other political tragedies of this map, including a blatant dilution of Democratic votes and picking voters for potential candidates, it carves up neighborhoods in Salt Lake County without thought. The only thought was to achieve a “0” or “1” person deviation to secure the map from litigation.
So now we have a messy map that actually splits the centers of some homes. I viewed close up aerial photos of the new boundaries at the Capitol today. Lines also divide quaint neighborhood streets down their centers, zigzagging all over the place, curling around captured neighborhood squares. It’s just a menagerie.
The moral to this story: if Republicans had taken four days, one month, or even the full six months they used for the public road tour, they could have fine tuned their map. They could have had time to review cuts through neighborhoods and houses. But when you surprise your audience with a brand new map at the last minute, sloppy is what happens; and sloppy could rule for the next ten years.
The new map cuts West Valley City in half, which in reality happens when you attempt to divide the most populous county in the state. The city’s Republican Mayor Mike Winder says it’s okay. He finds it beneficial to have two U.S. Congress people to go to with concerns.
I have news for Mayor Winder: his city is urban and therefore will be on the back burner. If a Republican candidate acquires either or both of the Congressional districts West Valley City resides in, his or her directive will be to focus on acquiring federal land in rural areas. Urban cities get the backside of the deal here, even though ironically I guess a congressman or woman will be from an urban area; unfortunate for rural residents.
Good congressional maps are out there. If Governor Herbert vetoes this messy map, and goes back and selects the Fred Cox/Ben McAdams map, or the King/Garber Modified map, I cannot tell you how much goodwill he would be offering to the citizens of our state. He would be choosing either a bipartisan compromise map or a citizen’s map if he selects the King/Garber map. This alone would be a magnificent move to satisfy the public.
The King/Garber map is a compromise map, not what the citizens really asked for. But I strongly believe citizens are willing to compromise. Our Republican Legislature was not.
If Governor Herbert is as smart as I think he is, he would leverage a veto and a substitute citizen map for the messy map passed by the House and Senate. This goodwill act could help regain trust by the citizenry. This goodwill could last for a very long time. I’m predicting ten years.
Hours of closed-door Republican caucus meetings on Monday to finalize Utah's redistricting maps delivered two surprise congressional maps. The first, a completely new map never introduced to the minority party or the public until that day, with Republicans claiming it was a modified citizen’s map, a Garber map. Garber was the first to deny it looked anything like his map, stating the only commonality was Utah’s state outline. The rest of everybody only needed a visual to concur.
The second map, SB3002, introduced that day eventually passed through the House and Senate. It was presented to Democrats and the public between 7:30 and 8 p.m. It looks similar to the map the Senate passed two weeks earlier, with the House realizing any map they present to the Senate needs to be similar to the Senate approved map, or else it will go back to the drawing board. Even that Senate map was a last minute surprise map replacing the six finalist maps voted on by the Legislative Redistricting Committee.
So SB3002 is now waiting on only a signature from Governor Gary Herbert to be implemented for the next ten years. And it is a messy map.
Outside of all the other political tragedies of this map, including a blatant dilution of Democratic votes and picking voters for potential candidates, it carves up neighborhoods in Salt Lake County without thought. The only thought was to achieve a “0” or “1” person deviation to secure the map from litigation.
So now we have a messy map that actually splits the centers of some homes. I viewed close up aerial photos of the new boundaries at the Capitol today. Lines also divide quaint neighborhood streets down their centers, zigzagging all over the place, curling around captured neighborhood squares. It’s just a menagerie.
The moral to this story: if Republicans had taken four days, one month, or even the full six months they used for the public road tour, they could have fine tuned their map. They could have had time to review cuts through neighborhoods and houses. But when you surprise your audience with a brand new map at the last minute, sloppy is what happens; and sloppy could rule for the next ten years.
The new map cuts West Valley City in half, which in reality happens when you attempt to divide the most populous county in the state. The city’s Republican Mayor Mike Winder says it’s okay. He finds it beneficial to have two U.S. Congress people to go to with concerns.
I have news for Mayor Winder: his city is urban and therefore will be on the back burner. If a Republican candidate acquires either or both of the Congressional districts West Valley City resides in, his or her directive will be to focus on acquiring federal land in rural areas. Urban cities get the backside of the deal here, even though ironically I guess a congressman or woman will be from an urban area; unfortunate for rural residents.
Good congressional maps are out there. If Governor Herbert vetoes this messy map, and goes back and selects the Fred Cox/Ben McAdams map, or the King/Garber Modified map, I cannot tell you how much goodwill he would be offering to the citizens of our state. He would be choosing either a bipartisan compromise map or a citizen’s map if he selects the King/Garber map. This alone would be a magnificent move to satisfy the public.
The King/Garber map is a compromise map, not what the citizens really asked for. But I strongly believe citizens are willing to compromise. Our Republican Legislature was not.
If Governor Herbert is as smart as I think he is, he would leverage a veto and a substitute citizen map for the messy map passed by the House and Senate. This goodwill act could help regain trust by the citizenry. This goodwill could last for a very long time. I’m predicting ten years.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Flies, not Clowns
By Kelli Lundgren
It interests me that people are still accusing, or trying to find slip-ups in conversation and quotes to confirm Utah’s Republican legislators are diluting unwanted votes in this intense redistricting process. So and so said “Republicans want 62% Republicans in every Congressional District.” So and so said, “that.”
Then, the Legislative Redistricting Committee meets once again in front of the public, and every Republican presenting a map explains that it is imperative to have an urban/rural mix; or, we must have federal land in each district; or, we are dividing Salt Lake County in four to make “competitive districts.” All sound bites.
How silly is this? The elephant in the room is obvious, besides the Republican trademark. No matter how the Republicans want to spin facts, or the press accuse motive, redistricting’s big underlying principles by a supermajority party are simply to split up unwanted votes and to protect favored incumbents. So everybody, here is the elephant in the room. Now let’s move on.
Currently, Utah’s redistricting process is a boxing match. We’re in round 10, bloodied and battered on both sides. But the boxers aren’t the usual suspects. The opponents are Republicans. Each boxer has too many trainers in each respective corner; the (Republican) governor, other Republican legislators, Carl Wimmer, and anyone Republicans owe a favor. Each and every trainer is giving each boxer inconsistent advice, thus repeated rounds.
The Democrats? They are the spectators, but with front row seats. They are now finally on their feet cautiously yelling for democracy, but still on the sidelines.
And RepresentMeUtah? We’re the fly incessantly bugging the boxers. It’s hard for the boxers to swat at us because of their gloves, and because they have to focus their swollen eyes on their Republican opponent at all times.
RepresentMeUtah! is a small fly. The much bigger fly is the public. And we’re buzzing around the Republican boxing ring. What a nuisance.
This week, RepresentMeUtah walked into the redistricting committee meeting, all six members for the first time together and asked for compromise. You cannot believe the heart wrenching workings that went on behind our scenes when we asked ourselves if we and the public could support a modified pizza slice plan, a compromise presented by Senator Ben McAdams.
In the end, this week, we did not get much public interest behind the map because there is a better, more favorable map still out there; the King01/Garber, I’ll call “excellent map.” It’s compact and doesn’t use voter data to dilute Democratic votes. I personally believe, and am sick with this knowledge, that a map that does not dilute Democratic votes will be rejected by Republicans.
So, with pain, I endorse a map, the McAdams Compromise Map, that at least shows some compromise. Acceptance of such a map, I think at least, would thwart a Democratic lawsuit. But this is just my opinion. I do not know what the Democrats will accept. And too, a compromise would call off RepMeU and coalition groups from rallying again, and instead we could offer a “thank you for compromising” to our legislature.
RepresentMeUtah members have been called many names in this process by legislative members, and by conservatives, and that is expected. We’re simply not going to give up. The press started out calling us a good government group, then called us a “supposed good government group,” and settled last month on calling us a reform group. It will be interesting to see what they will be calling us next month.
RepresentMeUtah!’s journey is much greater than redistricting. We don’t know if we will have any impact on the redistricting process, but we’re trying. The reality that we are very aware of is: the Republican Legislature is holding most of the cards.
I used to sit comfortably on my couch and accept the fact that I live in a conservative state. I vote Republican and Democratic in this state, for candidates and not for political parties. I vote for candidates seemingly practical, tolerant, and progressive. I would love to see more moderate Republicans backing fair representation in the redistricting process because I believe fair districts will benefit them too.
I would love to see the two in three registered Utah voters that don’t vote, get out to vote next year, instead of rolling their eyeballs. Their massive voting power could make a huge difference.
I would love to see our state heading more toward moderation and reason, versus toward fear and a distaste for Democrats.
So I am willing to look like a clown and be called names when fighting for a return to compromise and reason.
It interests me that people are still accusing, or trying to find slip-ups in conversation and quotes to confirm Utah’s Republican legislators are diluting unwanted votes in this intense redistricting process. So and so said “Republicans want 62% Republicans in every Congressional District.” So and so said, “that.”
Then, the Legislative Redistricting Committee meets once again in front of the public, and every Republican presenting a map explains that it is imperative to have an urban/rural mix; or, we must have federal land in each district; or, we are dividing Salt Lake County in four to make “competitive districts.” All sound bites.
How silly is this? The elephant in the room is obvious, besides the Republican trademark. No matter how the Republicans want to spin facts, or the press accuse motive, redistricting’s big underlying principles by a supermajority party are simply to split up unwanted votes and to protect favored incumbents. So everybody, here is the elephant in the room. Now let’s move on.
Currently, Utah’s redistricting process is a boxing match. We’re in round 10, bloodied and battered on both sides. But the boxers aren’t the usual suspects. The opponents are Republicans. Each boxer has too many trainers in each respective corner; the (Republican) governor, other Republican legislators, Carl Wimmer, and anyone Republicans owe a favor. Each and every trainer is giving each boxer inconsistent advice, thus repeated rounds.
The Democrats? They are the spectators, but with front row seats. They are now finally on their feet cautiously yelling for democracy, but still on the sidelines.
And RepresentMeUtah? We’re the fly incessantly bugging the boxers. It’s hard for the boxers to swat at us because of their gloves, and because they have to focus their swollen eyes on their Republican opponent at all times.
RepresentMeUtah! is a small fly. The much bigger fly is the public. And we’re buzzing around the Republican boxing ring. What a nuisance.
This week, RepresentMeUtah walked into the redistricting committee meeting, all six members for the first time together and asked for compromise. You cannot believe the heart wrenching workings that went on behind our scenes when we asked ourselves if we and the public could support a modified pizza slice plan, a compromise presented by Senator Ben McAdams.
In the end, this week, we did not get much public interest behind the map because there is a better, more favorable map still out there; the King01/Garber, I’ll call “excellent map.” It’s compact and doesn’t use voter data to dilute Democratic votes. I personally believe, and am sick with this knowledge, that a map that does not dilute Democratic votes will be rejected by Republicans.
So, with pain, I endorse a map, the McAdams Compromise Map, that at least shows some compromise. Acceptance of such a map, I think at least, would thwart a Democratic lawsuit. But this is just my opinion. I do not know what the Democrats will accept. And too, a compromise would call off RepMeU and coalition groups from rallying again, and instead we could offer a “thank you for compromising” to our legislature.
RepresentMeUtah members have been called many names in this process by legislative members, and by conservatives, and that is expected. We’re simply not going to give up. The press started out calling us a good government group, then called us a “supposed good government group,” and settled last month on calling us a reform group. It will be interesting to see what they will be calling us next month.
RepresentMeUtah!’s journey is much greater than redistricting. We don’t know if we will have any impact on the redistricting process, but we’re trying. The reality that we are very aware of is: the Republican Legislature is holding most of the cards.
I used to sit comfortably on my couch and accept the fact that I live in a conservative state. I vote Republican and Democratic in this state, for candidates and not for political parties. I vote for candidates seemingly practical, tolerant, and progressive. I would love to see more moderate Republicans backing fair representation in the redistricting process because I believe fair districts will benefit them too.
I would love to see the two in three registered Utah voters that don’t vote, get out to vote next year, instead of rolling their eyeballs. Their massive voting power could make a huge difference.
I would love to see our state heading more toward moderation and reason, versus toward fear and a distaste for Democrats.
So I am willing to look like a clown and be called names when fighting for a return to compromise and reason.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Utah Base Senate Map Needs Work! By Kelli Lundgren
Utah’s new base Senate redistricting map doesn’t pass muster. It unnecessarily divides cities, counties and communities for incumbency protection.
For example, the Senate created a “thumb” district extension of Tooele County into west Salt Lake valley to secure an incumbent residing in Salt Lake County. (See base Senate map.) This resulted in taking a swath of residential Tooele County and giving it to Box Elder County, which has no direct transportation link.
The Senate secured incumbents in Weber and Davis County, discussed as an important measure in Sept. 7th’s Legislative redistricting meeting. The committee rationed this as one reason why it had to take Stansbury Park from Tooele, or it would mess up boundaries for other northeastern incumbents.
Also egregious: when you count the total population for Utah County, it needs 5.5 Senators. It’s getting eight. The Senate has pulled in populations from four perimeter counties, including Salt Lake. Incumbent protection is involved once again.
The reality is: minimizing city and county divides means you can’t play politics, and redistricting, as it is, is all about serious politics.
Utah voters vote 60% Republican and 40% Democrat on average. 73% of our legislators are Republican. With the greatest off-balance in a two-party system in the nation, Utah Republicans control just about every string of Utah’s political puppet.
In redistricting, the Democrats ask for what they want, wait in the hallways for an outcome, and then find out with the rest of us what Republicans have decided.
Waiting with Utah’s Democrats for a redistricting outcome are: RepresentMeUtah!, other political activist groups, many rural and urban citizens, and municipal leaders; all that have requested to keep communities together. A $100K software program for public input and an around-the-state road trip now seem an awful waste.
Senator Stuart Reid said the legislators are the best and most knowledgeable people to draft the maps now. Senator Michael Waddoups told good government groups off the cuff at Sept. 12th’s meeting we’re not listening to you anymore. Did he ever listen in the first place?
Good government groups like the base map for the House. (Utah Base House Map.) Its areas are fairly compact and keep several communities together. Also, we have seen the House use comments and concerns from citizens from the road trip, such as putting Cedar City back together in one district after proposing a split down its main street; keeping representation of Rosepark in Salt Lake County and not diluting its votes into Davis County. This certainly doesn’t mean that incumbency was not considered in the House map. I am certain it was. But the House has at least thrown Democrats and citizens a bone and listened to some of our comments. There's some hope.
RepresentMeUtah! believes that political systems in every state should ignore incumbents when drawing new boundaries. As Utah citizens, RepresentMeUtah! members are not counting safe seats for Democrats and Republicans. We believe that if new boundaries preserve county, city and community borders as much as possible, given one-person-one-vote parameters, democracy is better served. Voter-reflective representation, which is well needed in Utah, is better achieved.
If an impartial redistricting process were to be performed, politics would need to fly out the window. Democracy would take its place.
Redistricting’s squash of democracy is not unique to Utah. Yet in all other states, two parties duke out new boundaries and come to a compromise. In supermajority Utah, Republican legislators have the final say.
September 22nd should be interesting as it is the final public meeting and we will be looking at maps of four new U.S. Congressional districts. Utah’s three congressmen are invited to attend and submit maps. That’s when high drama begins. Oh wait, it already has!
Doughnuts or pizza anyone?
For example, the Senate created a “thumb” district extension of Tooele County into west Salt Lake valley to secure an incumbent residing in Salt Lake County. (See base Senate map.) This resulted in taking a swath of residential Tooele County and giving it to Box Elder County, which has no direct transportation link.
The Senate secured incumbents in Weber and Davis County, discussed as an important measure in Sept. 7th’s Legislative redistricting meeting. The committee rationed this as one reason why it had to take Stansbury Park from Tooele, or it would mess up boundaries for other northeastern incumbents.
Also egregious: when you count the total population for Utah County, it needs 5.5 Senators. It’s getting eight. The Senate has pulled in populations from four perimeter counties, including Salt Lake. Incumbent protection is involved once again.
The reality is: minimizing city and county divides means you can’t play politics, and redistricting, as it is, is all about serious politics.
Utah voters vote 60% Republican and 40% Democrat on average. 73% of our legislators are Republican. With the greatest off-balance in a two-party system in the nation, Utah Republicans control just about every string of Utah’s political puppet.
In redistricting, the Democrats ask for what they want, wait in the hallways for an outcome, and then find out with the rest of us what Republicans have decided.
Waiting with Utah’s Democrats for a redistricting outcome are: RepresentMeUtah!, other political activist groups, many rural and urban citizens, and municipal leaders; all that have requested to keep communities together. A $100K software program for public input and an around-the-state road trip now seem an awful waste.
Senator Stuart Reid said the legislators are the best and most knowledgeable people to draft the maps now. Senator Michael Waddoups told good government groups off the cuff at Sept. 12th’s meeting we’re not listening to you anymore. Did he ever listen in the first place?
Good government groups like the base map for the House. (Utah Base House Map.) Its areas are fairly compact and keep several communities together. Also, we have seen the House use comments and concerns from citizens from the road trip, such as putting Cedar City back together in one district after proposing a split down its main street; keeping representation of Rosepark in Salt Lake County and not diluting its votes into Davis County. This certainly doesn’t mean that incumbency was not considered in the House map. I am certain it was. But the House has at least thrown Democrats and citizens a bone and listened to some of our comments. There's some hope.
RepresentMeUtah! believes that political systems in every state should ignore incumbents when drawing new boundaries. As Utah citizens, RepresentMeUtah! members are not counting safe seats for Democrats and Republicans. We believe that if new boundaries preserve county, city and community borders as much as possible, given one-person-one-vote parameters, democracy is better served. Voter-reflective representation, which is well needed in Utah, is better achieved.
If an impartial redistricting process were to be performed, politics would need to fly out the window. Democracy would take its place.
Redistricting’s squash of democracy is not unique to Utah. Yet in all other states, two parties duke out new boundaries and come to a compromise. In supermajority Utah, Republican legislators have the final say.
September 22nd should be interesting as it is the final public meeting and we will be looking at maps of four new U.S. Congressional districts. Utah’s three congressmen are invited to attend and submit maps. That’s when high drama begins. Oh wait, it already has!
Doughnuts or pizza anyone?
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