Vote ‘yes’ to change districting process

Dear Editor: There is something inherently wrong with giving the power to gerrymander legislative districts to the party that just happens to be in power when the U.S. Census takes place.

In an effort to end this flaw, an 11-member commission was appointed to come up with a plan that would take the politics out of drawing up districts.

After eight months of deliberations, we adopted a plan that will remove the politics from the redistricting process by defining who can serve on the Ulster County Redistricting Commission, the process that they must follow, and the criteria they must use.

The process excludes all county and state employees and elected officials and anyone who has been on a political committee during the last three years from serving on the commission. It assures that any changes in legislative districts will be conducted in a neutral and nonpartisan manner.

The redistricting would go into effect without legislative approval, thereby preventing legislators from being able to gerrymander districts.

The revision commission consisted of 11 members, four of whom were ex- legislators, two Republicans and two Democrats. The revision was unanimously adopted.

The bottom line is that, if you want people like yourself to define the district you live in, vote “yes.” If you want politicians to do it, vote “no.”

The proposal will be on the back of your ballot in November as County Proposition No. 1.

The documentation can be found at ulstercountyny.gov/ charter-revision-commission/ proposed-revisions Thomas Kadgen, Shokan Member, Redistricting

Commission