Redistricting commission doesn’t seem up to, or interested in, its task
I attended the hearing of the Ohio Redistricting Commission at the Statehouse on Aug. 31.
The commission listened to the presentation of the Democratic caucus’ map, but provided no maps of their own. After some discussion about the process, the meeting was adjourned with very little accomplished and very little concern that the deadline (Sept. 1) would not be met. The commission seemed directionless.
Typically, a team charged with a project sets the goals and objectives and delineates the tasks; members are then assigned tasks and an agenda is created showing when the project will be completed.
The team reports their progress along the way. I suggest a similar protocol for the redistricting project. This would give the group some direction and allow the Ohio General Assembly and its constituents to be kept apprised of the progress that the commission has made.
Mention was made that the census data became available later than in previous years. However, the data has been available for several weeks in a form that is usable for redistricting maps.
I see no effort on the part of the commission to do the work needed to create a map or to fulfill the commission’s mandate to make the process transparent to the voting public. Neither do I see an effort to make this a bipartisan effort.
The commission needs to meet these minimal standards; to come together as a team and do their best to achieve fair and equitable maps in a timely fashion. It is vital to Ohio that they do so.
Laura J. Moorman, Westerville