Redistricting Gone Awry

In Wisconsin, redistricting has been first and foremost initiated at the local level. This is consistent with our State constitution as amended in 1924 to declare Wisconsin a Home Rule State, reducing the role of the legislature in establishing the governing institutions of particular municipalities, and giving cities and villages increased authority to determine their own affairs.

Local governments take Home Rule seriously. That is why they work so hard in the redistricting process to incorporate census changes and to build upon communities of interest. Having served on Dane County’s Complete Census Count Committee, I can attest to the effort that went in to counting every individual so the most accurate information was available for redistricting efforts.

I want to be clear that the outrage I feel about the Republican redistricting effort being rushed through the legislature is not that they are trying to protect their own, the outrage is that it fundamentally changes the process from a bottom up to a top down effort. It takes what should be local decisions out of the hands of local representatives.

Representatives from local communities throughout Wisconsin testified in Madison at the one public hearing held on this topic that this will put a financial burden on the backs of local taxpayers and cause more voter confusion. The rush to get this changed reflects a total disrespect for the time and money already invested at the local level this year and has cost the state more than $500,000 – even though we’re broke. Lawsuits are sure to follow, with more money wasted.

Municipalities draw political boundaries to reflect neighborhood associations, municipal boundaries and other geographic features to have balanced representation and encourage voting. Districts with minority populations are formed to encourage minority representation and rural districts are maintained to give those areas a voice. It is only after local boundaries are drawn that the state aligns legislative districts to follow local boundaries.

Dane County, like other municipalities throughout the state, spent significant time and effort following the established process for defining these local boundaries. District 24 has been changed to better reflect the community of interest along Monona Drive. The new District 24 will include communities on both sides of Monona Drive. The area adjacent to Rimrock Road previously in the District will now be part of the district that includes Rimrock Road. That just makes sense from a community perspective. To see the new County Districts maps for Dane County, go to the Dane County website at: http://countyofdane.com/board/redistricting.aspx.

At the state level, the Republican proposal disregards Dane County’s efforts; it ignores communities of interests already defined at the local level, splits rural and urban districts, and disregards minority and other census changes. Worst of all, it takes away the ability of local governments to identify their communities of interest. In their proposed plan, Monona is no longer in District 48, but a newly defined District 47 – ranging from Monona to Verona Road, rural Fitchburg and all of McFarland.

I understand that desperate times call for desperate actions – but I hope the public sees what is happening and takes a step back and asks where does it end? How do we put integrity back into politics? How can we bring Wisconsin back to focus on what makes us strong – what has made this state a great state to live, raise a family, educate our children and have a high quality of life on a modest income?