The process that shifts the political landscape every 10 years with the redrawing of legislative district boundaries should include inviting more public input through greater outreach to reduce potential abuses, such as partisan gerrymandering and incumbent protection, according to advocates for open government.
John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, said there is a conflict of interest with the way the present system functions. The group wants greater public input to be part of the process now, through testimony, as redrawn maps have given Democrats an unfair advantage in the upcoming election, he said.
Marion said there was sufficient time for public input on the state legislative maps, but the commission needs to do “better outreach” to improve participation.
Testimony submitted by Common Cause on Dec. 13 noted that around 80% of the redrawn districts are “safe Democratic seats,” even though 80% of the state’s voters don’t consistently favor Democratic candidates.
Common Cause is also pushing for an amendment to the state constitution for the creation of an independent commission to handle reapportionment.
“We support an independent commission to remove the legislative leadership from the selection process for the commission and give final approval of the maps to the commission, not the legislature,” Marion said.
Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea, a Democrat who is running for governor, agrees. She said although the process has evolved over the years to greater transparency, the state should consider a constitutional amendment.
“I think it’s a great idea,” she said of an amendment being put before the voters. “It would give people confidence that personal political interests aren’t taken into account in the drawing of the districts.”
Gorbea witnessed abuse of the process firsthand when she filed a lawsuit in 2001 against the General Assembly when serving as president of the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee. The lawsuit targeted the lack of the majority of the Latino voting-age population in drafting a map for a Senate district in South Providence.
As a result, the committee negotiated new district lines with the General Assembly, and Juan Pichardo was elected state senator for that district – the first Hispanic person to hold the position.
For greater transparency, Gorbea unveiled a mapping tool on Dec. 10 that shows changes to the maps and includes demographic information. She said Rhode Island should follow California’s redistricting model, which is run by a 14-member independent commission that removes politicians from the process.
Marion said that under Common Cause’s proposal, a 15-member independent commission would be formed from citizens who have submitted applications. The secretary of state would weed out anyone with a conflict of interest, randomly selecting six members, two each who are registered Republican, Democrat and unaffiliated. The additional nine seats would be filled by selections from the six members, with three each being registered Republican, Democrat and unaffiliated.
As it stands now, Rhode Island’s redistricting is overseen by an 18-member commission selected by the General Assembly leadership, a mix of lawmakers and members of the public. The Democrats get 14 appointments, the Republicans four. The commission holds public hearings throughout Rhode Island to present its plans, while employing a consultant, Kimball Brace of Election Data Services, who assists with its duties.
Ultimately, the General Assembly has the final vote on redistricting, although the governor has the power to veto.
Marion said Election Data Services has met with individual incumbent legislators in the basement of the Statehouse, where they’ve discussed information pertinent to a particular district. This gives the appearance of impropriety and influence over a process plagued with gerrymandering and incumbent protection, Marion said.
Common Cause wants to prohibit a commission from considering any information about where politicians live, including incumbents and their potential challengers. An independent commission would solve the issue, Marion said.
“The commission should be blind to those sorts of political considerations,” said Marion, noting that states that handle redistricting at the federal and state level with independent commissions are Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan and Washington.
The current process is bound by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires state legislative districts to be equal in population within 5%. In Rhode Island, redistricting is governed by the state constitution and enabling legislation submitted to the General Assembly by the House speaker.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said he has deliberately taken a hands-off approach in the redistricting process, as the commission holds public hearings throughout the state. “I have confidence in the commission’s independent recommendations expected to be made next month,” he said.
Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio said, “The reapportionment process is taking place. I am not a member of the commission.”
The commission’s deadline for reporting its findings to the General Assembly is Jan. 15. After the redistricting is approved, the consultant creates new maps, with the process completed by May so candidates can file for office in June.
John Marion is correct, as usual. Dom and Joe are content to bury their heads in the sand, as usual. Dan may have to weld the Big Stick, aka veto power, but is he willing to step up and do the RIght for the taxpayers when it may cost him GA support in the next election?