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Husted announces redistricting proposal
State Rep. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, on Monday, March 30 announced that he plans to introduce a plan to change how Ohio legislative and congressional districts are drawn. It would require voter approval.
Husted, a possible candidate for secretary of state in 2010, said the plan would create a “true, bipartisan seven-member commission” to oversee the creation of district boundaries for both state legislative and congressional districts.
To promote bipartisanship, the resolution would require a five vote super majority for the adoption of any redistricting plan. In addition, at least one of the required five votes must come from each of the three groups represented on the commission: two Republican legislative leader appointments; two Democratic legislative leader appointments and three remaining members, who would be selected by the four legislative leaders.
“We can’t change the hyper-partisan ways of government unless we change the system that demands it. This change would allow the voters to pick their politicians rather than letting the politicians pick their voters.” Husted said in a press release.
“I hope this will serve to stimulate bipartisan debate and action. The cost of inaction in 2009 will lead to the preservation of a system that values partisan advantage over problem solving-Ohioans can no longer to afford to live this way.”
The plan would replace the five-member Apportionment Board for drawing legislative districts and the legislature for drawing U.S. House districts. New districts are drawn after each census. The next time will be after the 2010 census.
Husted has said the goal is for the House and Senate to agree to put the issue on the Nov. 3 ballot for voter consideration.
The Apportionment Board is made up of the governor, secretary of state, auditor and a member of the legislature from each party. Right now, Democrats would hold a majority on the board, 3-2.
However Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is running for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and Republican Auditor Mary Taylor is considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland is expected to seek re-election in 2010.
The proposal adds and defines what a competitive district is to the factors the commission must consider when creating new districts. It also would make commission meetings open to the public and the date used in the process available for review.
The proposal also prohibits redrawing congressional district lines between censuses. Now the Ohio Constitution prohibits mid-census changes to General Assembly districts but not congressional districts.
Catherine Turcer, director of the Money in Politics project for Ohio Citizen Action, a government reform group, called the proposal “a significant improvement over the status quo.” She said she would like to see more independence from the three members who are to be appointed by consensus. For example, lobbyists, former legislators and political consultants should not be considered for the spots, Turcer said.
Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, applauded the plan.
“It is not easy to take an issue that is inherently political, bring opposing sides together and come up with a thoughtful proposal for the General Assembly to consider,” Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, said in the press release.
“I appreciate the tremendous amount of time and hard work Jon Husted has put into his resolution and look forward to working with him to reform Ohio’s redistricting process.”
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