Letters to the Editor

Say “NO” to GERRYMANDERING Dear Editor,

The process of “gerrymandering” is a political power grab. Every ten years following the US Census-state legislative districts are redrawn to make sure the districts represent equal populations. In most states the party in power has determined the borders of these districts to their advantage. Lloyd Omdahl stated in a recent op-ed that “five ND districts violate the constitutional requirements of compactness”. Stark County was split into four districts to “gerrymander” out a Democratic opponent. This will happen again if HB 1397 is passed without changes. Amendments should require a bipartisan committee to determine boundaries, transparency (the present bill includes an exemption to open records), and require open hearings. Changing HB 1397 will help insure that “voters are choosing their representatives instead of representatives choosing their voters”.

Patti Patrie Bowdon, ND

North Dakota House Bill 1298 aims to ban transgender athletes in North Dakota from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. This bill would prevent a female to compete on male athletic team if there is no female option available to them. While every high school may have a men’s and women’s basketball team, the same cannot be said for soccer or hockey. Rural areas often allow women to play for a men’s team when no women’s team is avail

able. HB 1298 would even further restrict the access that these women have and would create even larger obstacles for these student-athletes to overcome just to participate in athletics.

I have devoted my life to women’s athletics and have spent the past decade coaching at the Division I and III levels. I have heard the concern that some may have for transgender participation in athletics, I can assure you that there is no real threat to athletics, specifically to women’s

athletics. The NCAA has allowed transgender student-athletes to participate in college athletics since before I started coaching college sports, and without incident. Transgender student-athletes are not “stealing” scholarships, championships or opportunities from female student-athletes. I have never witnessed nor experienced any detriment to my program or women’s athletics due to the NCAA’s inclusive stance on transgender studentathletes. HB 1298 is

unnecessary and reckless. HB 1298 would not make our athletes safer because there is no impending risk.

Sports should be accessible to EVERY child in the state of North Dakota, not just some of them. Athletics teach us leadership, discipline, and respect for others. Most importantly, sports teach us resilience and perseverance. Rebecca Quimby Head Women’s Soccer Coach Concordia College Moorhead, MN

Less gerrymandering in North Dakota

Does gerrymandering happen in North Dakota?

Gerrymandering happens when lawmakers draw new legislative district boundaries so as to favor themselves and their party in future elections.

In the year following each U.S. Census, legislative district boundaries must be redrawn so that each district has nearly the same number of voters. A committee of legislators updates

the state’s district map. In other words, elected officials pick their voters, not the other way around.

Legislators want to be re-elected, so there is a motivation to use the redistricting process for incumbent protection. For instance, a legislator may have moved out of his district. “Let’s move the line so his new house is back in his old district.” Or, “I don’t want to have to run against that person; draw the line so that she’s not in my dis

trict.”

North Dakota citizens strongly favor government that is transparent and accessible to the citizens. House Bill 1397, which defines the procedures for North Dakota redistricting this cycle, should be amended to ensure ample opportunity for public scrutiny and input before the final map is drawn.

Guidelines should be included in this bill that encourage the legislators to follow widely recommended criteria,

such as trying not to divide city, county, township or tribal areas into different legislative districts. Neither the political affiliation of the residents nor the address of an incumbent or potential candidate should be considered when drawing the lines. North Dakota Voters First is proposing amendments to change HB1397 accordingly because North Dakota voters expect government to be both open and fair. Carol Sawicki Fargo, ND