TOP OF MIND

Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION With a lawsuit preceding alleging illegal partisan gerrymandering in the state’s congressional map, should the state start over?

“Yes. After watching the pros I think the fairest way would be to lock a group of 15-year-olds in a room with population maps, computers, and all the soda and candy bars they could handle, then flip a coin on where to start. This would be honest.”

— Jim Schwebach, McIntosh N.M.

“The congressional map should be left in its current congressional district arrangement until sufficient evidence is provided to show proof of significant gerrymandering. The current map looks reasonable compared to known gerrymandering in other states where extremely irregular patterns can be seen.”

— Viviane DuBois, Rio Rancho

“When then-Speaker Brian Egolf stated: “So this is the last election for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District with a map that looks like it looks now,” it shows how blatant Democrats were at gerrymandering the congressional and legislative maps in their favor. Time to start over and make it right.”

— Dan Pagliaro, Albuquerque

“The ruling means only that there are legal grounds to proceed, not that the map is deemed problematic. The state should stick with what it already worked so hard to develop.”

— Doranna Durgin, Tijeras

“Yes, they should start over. I am a life-long Democrat, but the last boundaries were not only gerrymandered so that Democrats would have the number advantage in all three districts, but also split counties. That should not be allowed, especially in the southern and eastern parts of state.”

— Bill Burch, Albuquerque

“They are an improvement over the previous districts because they are more competitive. Kudos.”

— David Torney, Jemez Springs

“Definitely start over. This new map is shameful.”

— Richard Fairbanks, Albuquerque

“Once again we’re being governed by the courts. The method is flawed. Having the political party in power drawing the boundaries will never be fair.”

— Greg Natzke, Albuquerque

“I far prefer that the solution to reasonable redistricting come from the Legislature instead of the courts. However, maybe the courts should hold a club over the Ds so they don’t again follow their own worst instincts, which is what led to the present nonsense.”

— Harold Morgan, Albuquerque

“Start over. Use machine intelligence to create several competitive aggregated precinct cluster maps, each cluster equal to within about 1%, based on voter registrations. It’s definitely possible for the three federal House districts, and probably close for most state districts. Choose the most geographically optimal maps meeting that criterion.”

— Frank Fisher, Rio Rancho

“Gerrymandering should be prohibited for both parties in all 50 states. But it is hypocritical for Republicans to complain about it in New Mexico when they utilize it in Texas and other red states. Have a national compromise and ban it in all states to show the will of the people.”

— Ron Schwartz, Albuquerque

“The crooked state government created the first map.”

— Jeff Urban, Albuquerque