Council strongly split on gerrymandering bills

WEST GROVE » Borough council withheld an endorsement or objection to gerrymandering following a presentation on the subject Wednesday evening.

Jamie Magil, the state coordinator for Resolutions for Fair District PA gave a talk on the history, methods and effects of the practice that politicians in power use to cut voting districts to their advantage. She asked for a resolution endorsing the concept of reform in the state House and Senate.

But in the discussions that followed, it was clear that there was strong disagreement among the council members as well as a strong scolding by local Republican Committee Chair Linda Ingenthron. Magil used a Power Point presentation to illustrate how parties in power at the state level with a deciding vote in their favor carve out voting districts in such a way that members of the party they oppose are either segregated into a minority in their particular neighborhoods or cut out of a district and placed in another district where they are also in a minority. In simple terms, those in power have the tools to create advantages for them to stay in power, and they use those tools.

Getting around the rules guidelines that state districts must be contiguous and in the same municipality, the power party brokers create oddly shaped districts that appear on maps, almost like U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan’s, R-7, “moose” and state Sen. Andy Dinniman’s, D-19, “dragon,” as they have been called. They base the shapes on demographics gathered and processed by computers.

Magil said that if something is not done to remedy the situation with a new way to draw the lines, things are not going to get any better in government and moderate votes will have no power at all, and political compromise will be a thing of the past.

Currently there are two state bills, House bill 722 and Senate bill 22, but neither has made it to the floor for a vote, she said.

The power brokers who determine the districts now are two Republicans, two Democrats and one member of the state Supreme Court. And that one judge holds the trump card for the voting, depending on his or her party.

Magil said the proposal is for four Republicans, four Democrats and three unaffiliated persons to oversee redistricting, so there would be a better chance at consensus and bipartisanship.

As she finished, Ingenthron read a prepared statement opposing the reform saying that the borough council does not have the power to take a stand. She also said that with the way things are now there are been some benefits to the local community like grants for roadway projects and school funding.

Likewise, Council Member Michael Ranieri said he opposed it, not because it was a solution to the practice, but that nothing would change and that power would forever lie in the hands of the large business owners.

But Council Vice President Rich Turkington took on the critics.

“Why wouldn’t we want the state to respond fairly to the voters? Other democracies around the world don’t let this happen,” he said.

“As representatives, we should be getting involved. Gerrymandering is ugly,” he added.

In answer to Ingenthron’s statement that gerrymandering has brought some benefits to the West Grove ares, Turkington said that just because there have been some local benefits does not make it a good thing.

Board President Mark Johnson observed that the 16th Congressional District, which was formerly served by Joe Pitts and is now represented by Lloyd Smucker – both conservative Republicans – has excluded Kennett Square because it has become more liberal.

“When you look at Kennett Square in the 16th, it reminds me that it’s not contiguous . ... We are elected to represent the best interests of West Grove. We can be a good example,” he said.

But in the end, as Council Member Chip Freese said he had not had time to digest the issue, and Ranieri strongly opposed, Johnson said he was split on what to do.

So among themselves and in conversation, the council members decided to forego a vote.

Nearby, London Grove has passed a resolution opposing gerrymandering, while Penn Township opposed part of the motion.

Locally, state Rep. Eric Roe, R-158 of East Marlborough Township, is one of the supporters of the bill to reform the district-shaping process.