Did Indiana Republicans vote for challenger Richard Mourdock or against incumbent Richard Lugar in their primary election for a U.S. Senate seat?It’s hard to tell, because voters don’t have to give a reason.FORT WAYNE – The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission is recruiting amateur cartographers.
The commission called Thursday on the public to suggest new congressional and legislative districts as a method to put pressure on state lawmakers who will draw the maps this spring.
Citizen-generated maps “would be a fantastic way to hold legislators accountable,” Julia Vaughn, policy director for Common Cause, told a hearing at the IPFW Science Building that attracted about 35 people.
Common Cause is among the groups that formed the 11-member commission. Legislatures nationwide are drawing new districts to account for population changes in the decennial census; political districts should have an equal number of residents.
The commission fears that Hoosier lawmakers will produce maps that only make districts safer for incumbents, regardless of the political party, and give scant regard to compactness or communities with shared interests.
“It amounts to politicians choosing their voters rather than voters choosing their politicians,” Vaughn said. “Just a handful of these seats are really competitive, are really in play. No wonder we have low voter turnout when people have no choice on Election Day.”
Bill Ruppel, commission co-chairman and a former Republican representative from North Manchester, said the monthlong walkout by House Democrats could make redistricting even more political.
“Their districts are in jeopardy; the Republicans feel that’s one way to get back at them,” Ruppel said.
Commission member Mike Kole, a Libertarian, said that incumbency trumped partisan politics in redistricting. He said Republicans would rather keep safe seats than increase their numbers if it meant incumbents running against one another in reconfigured districts.
“It’s not about party. It’s about self,” Kole said.
Commission members urged the audience to attend a legislative public hearing on redistricting from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Allen County Public Library – and to write letters to lawmakers and newspaper editors.
Vaughn said that while the General Assembly must draw congressional maps by April 29, it can take all year to have public hearings and approve legislative districts in early January, well ahead of the 2012 primary election campaigns.
“This isn’t easy. It’s not sitting down and drawing squares on a map,” Vaughn said. “Take it slow and do it right is our message.”
In the next 10 years, the commission would like to see the General Assembly turn over redistricting to an independent body, as Washington state has done. Indiana lawmakers have resisted the idea in recent sessions.
“They want to keep it political,” Ruppel said. “They want to keep control of making districts. They don’t want to give up the power.”
Organizations represented on the Citizens Redistricting Commission include AARP, NAACP, League of Women Voters, the Indiana Patriot Guard and Kosciusko Silent No More, a tea party group.
