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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2011 > December > 21 > Entry
Montgomery, Greene Counties part of “competitive” U.S. House district
Montgomery and Greene counties are part of one of just three “competitive” U.S. House districts created by the new congressional map signed into law last week by Gov. John Kasich, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting.
House Bill 369 puts all of both counties, plus part of Fayette County, into the 10th District.
An earlier version of the congressional map split Montgomery County between two districts.
The county’s “competitive” status is based on an analysis that shows the district’s partisan indexes are 54.18 percent Republican and 45.82 percent Democratic. Any district with a majority party partisan index below 55 percent was considered “competitive.”
The other two “competitive” districts are the 6th that covers most of eastern Ohio and the 14th in the northeast corner of the state.
The other districts all had majority part indexes higher than 55 percent. Twelve districts favor Republicans and four favor Democrats.
Dan Tokaji, a professor at the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University, called the map a “disgrace to our democracy” because of political gerrymandering.
Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, who voted for the map, said the districts are “legal and constitutional” although he said the redistricting process could be improved.
Tokaji said the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting, of which he is a part, is working on a proposed constitutional amendment to put on the 2012 ballot to make a citizen commission, not legislators and the governor, in charge of redistricting.
The new map puts both U.S. Reps. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, and Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, in the new 10th District and they are expected to compete for the GOP nomination.
It is unclear who the candidates for the Democratic nomination will be but Sharen Swartz Neuhardt of Greene County, who practices law in Dayton, said she is “exploring all my options.” Democrat Neuhardt ran and lost to Austria in 2008.
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By Argill Vanatta
December 29, 2011 7:22 AM | Link to this
Whatever party is on the up side takes advantage. I know I am more concerned about illegals voting and I want regulations in place to keep the illegals and others from voting twice or more. Obama is the most unusual President and the direction he is taking us is a weaker America with bigger government that will manage us through a microscope. I want Obama out of that office! As for Ohio, I am opposed to the smoking law. I own bars and restaurants and should be allowed to have smoking if I wish. This law has to go along with Obama!
By larry green
December 28, 2011 7:00 PM | Link to this
one more time “elections have consequences”, and we do not have a democracy we have a representative government — if you do not like the representative you have vote them out and do not vote on party alone
By Hank Tomblinson
December 28, 2011 7:19 AM | Link to this
The redistricting is O.k. for me because I am conservative. As with all politics, the tables will turn one day, down the road. I am concerned about the illegals who have no right to vote, actually voting. What is so difficult about having appropriate identification. You know in advance you need identification. These bums that travel over state lines to vote in more than one place need to be caught and locked up! Obama is the most anti-American President I have ever known of. I am working with folks I know to make sure we vote him out in 2012! He resembles a communist from my perspective!
By judge justice
December 21, 2011 3:33 PM | Link to this
thank you Mr Dan Tokaji for bringing to light the real issue and how to resolve it by not letting the foxes run the hen house. i feel all political processes are a disgrace to our democracy anymore.