AZ CITIZENS SHOULD HEED REDISTRICTING PROCESS
posted by Michael Chihak
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is little understood by the average citizen, most especially how to have influence, two redistricting experts say.
They said the system, approved by Arizona voters in 2000 as n amendment to the state constitution, minimizes partisanship in drawing district boundaries and can be even better at that if citizens take part in the process.
Adolfo Echeveste, a Tempe resident who was first executive director of the commission serving from 2001 to 2008, said in an interview for Arizona Week that a key strength of the system is that it "minimizes partisanship." At the same time, he said, there needs to be more transparency in the entire process, including on the committee that screens nominees for the five-member commission.
The commission is made up of two Republicans, two Democrats and an independent voter, who serves as chair. Legislative party leaders name the four partisan commissioners, and those four in turn select the independent chair.
Echeveste and Jennifer Steen, a political scientist at Arizona State University, said in separate interviews for Arizona Week's Friday program that they think the average Arizonan needs a better understanding of the process.
Participation at public hearings and in other ways will help citizens to have an influence on the way voting districts are drawn.
Conflicting criteria, including making districts competitive while at the same time maintaining "communities of interest," make the task more difficult.
Additionally, Echeveste and Steen said, the rise of independent voters in Arizona makes the competitiveness, usually described as Republicans vs. Democrats, more complicated. Independents in Arizona now outnumber Democrats and are gaining on Republicans.
Their interviews and commentary from journalists may be viewed on Arizona Week Friday at 8:30 p.m. MST on KUAT-TV Channel 6 in Tucson, and at 10:30 p.m. MST on KAET-TV Channel 8 in Phoenix. The program also will be available at www.azweek.com Friday evening.
