REDISTRICTING: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO HATE

posted by Michael Chihak

The draft legislative and congressional maps approved by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission and now up for public scrutiny are drawing fire from nearly all quarters.

Republicans and Latinos, most of the latter being Democrats, were critical of the congressional draft map produced a week ago, as detailed in this blog on Monday.

Democrats are complaining this week -- oddly enough, on behalf of independent voters -- about the legislative draft map approved Monday on 4-1 vote of the commission.

State Democratic Party Executive Director Luis Heredia released a statement, quoted in the Arizona Capitol Times, saying :“The legislative draft map ... lacks competitive districts and is a giant step backward, as drawn. Without more competition, extremists will continue to get elected and will discourage independent voters from having any say in Arizona’s future."

The Democratic complaint could have at its source the fact that without more competitive districts, the party stands little chance of making headway in a state that has a plurality of Republicans. Next in line are independents, and as the 2011 election results showed, they are leaning Republican these days.

The draft maps now are subject to 30 days of public comment at a series of commission hearings starting today. Then, final adjustments will be made before the maps are shipped off to the U.S. Justice Department for pre-clearance under the U.S. Voting Rights Act.