Accountability was the word for the day on Saturday when the Peoria League of Women Voters hosted a presentation on redistricting. The event marked the official kick-off in Central Illinois, distributing petitions in favor of the Illinois Fair Map Amendment Coalition’s proposed redistricting reform.
“Our Illinois legislature has done such a poor job of redistricting,” Mary Jane Crowell, president of the Peoria League of Women Voters said. Throughout the meeting speakers reiterated that 98% of all incumbents are re-elected to the Illinois state Assembly.
Brad McMillan, a former aide to Congressman Ray LaHood, and current director of the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Studies at Bradley University shared the podium with Jan Czarnik, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Illinois and an expert in election law, who worked to pass Illinois early voting and deputy registrar laws.
Together they explained that the current process does not serve the best interest of the state of Illinois. As an example, Distrct 38 has a “tail” on the map that is barely continuguous – because the incumbent’s fiancee resides there. McMillan also noted that Effingham, with only 34,000 residents in the entire county, is represented by three state senators.
The Proposal
The proposed redistricting is remarkably simple and calls on a very specific skill set that we assume our elected leaders already have: fairness, accountability, and transparency. The redistricting map will be drawn by a nine-member Bipartisan Advisory committee.
The majority and minority leader of the house and the senate each select a redistricting committee member, seating eight members in total. The ninth member, a Special Master, will be appointed to the committee.
And, there is the rub. All eight of these members must agree on the appointed Special Master.
In the interest of accountability, the Special Master’s qualifications are designed to eliminate any chance of influence. As Jan Czarnik explained, “They cannot be an Illinois state employee, a legislator, lobbyist, contractor, immediate family member, public or political official.”
An added protection stipulates that, regardless of how the redistricting map is drawn, the Special Master is not permitted to run for the legislature as long as the map is in place or be appointed to any state board or commission that requires senate confirmation.
Failure Is Not An Option
McMillan said, “To recap the current proess, if we don’t do anything to do change it, after the 2010 census, the politicians behind closed doors, in secret, will chose their own voters. Then if the Republicans and Democrats disagree they put a name in the hat and whichever name is drawn gets to control the map drawing process.”
However, unless an amendment on the ballot guarantees the right of the public to insist that redistricting be done fairly in order to hold legislators accountable, a federal court will impose a map following the 2010 census. If that happens, the public will have no say in the matter – and neither do politicians.
According to Czarnik, grassroot efforts are no longer effective. “The only message Springfield is going to understand any more is this — You don’t get to draw the district guaranteeing your election any more.”
The Change Process
There are two ways to change redistricting in the state of Illinois. One method is a legislative constitutional amendment. State Senator Dale Risinger (R), who was present at the meeting, noted “There are proposals on redistricting being introduced in Springfield but I find it highly unlikely that the general assembly will pass the amendment. The bottom line is that citizen’s need to get this done.”
That means a direct citizen-led constitutional amendment. If sufficient signatures are collected prior to May 1, 2010, the proposed redistricting will appear on the ballot in November. It will require 282,000 signatures by April. Czarnik explained, “Our goal is to get 400,000 or 500,000 signatures, since we have a tradition in Illinois of people challenging petitions.”
Accountability
Sen. Risinger shared a refreshing perspective. “It is really difficult for a Democrat to come in and challenge a Republican – because the districts are drawn that way, he said.
He then challenged, “How does that make me accountable? Legislators ought to be accountable.”
Risinger then joked, “98% (of legislators) are incumbents in a state that is in trouble. You’d think you’d kick us all out!”
Roberta Parks, President at Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, quipped about urging citizens to sign the petitions, “Things can’t get worst – just sign it!”
For More Information
The language for the Fair Map Amendment framework are based on concerns of both Republicans and Democratic. To read more about the redistricting issue and to download petitions so you, too, can collect signatures, visit their website at http://www.ilfairmap.com.
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