Independent Redistricting Commission Not So Easily Independent

None by KCPW

Democrats Say Idaho and Arizona Do It, Why Not Utah?

(KCPW News 11/29/06) Redistricting tends to bring out the partisan in lawmakers and political parties. But Curtis Bramble, Senate chair of the legislature's redistricting committee, doesn't think an independent commission appointed by the governor is the answer:

"If the governor appoints individuals, how could he possibly appoint individuals who have no partisan bias?"

Democrats, however, think it's high time the concept is explored. Wayne Holland, chair of the Utah Democratic Party, says examples on how to implement an independent redistricting commission are close at hand:

"Look north and look south - Idaho and Arizona both have put together the independent commissions. In Idaho that meant three retired Democratic judges and three retired Republican judges."

Currently, Utah's redistricting process is a legislative one, meaning the party in power typically controls the process by which congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years in conjunction with new Census data. To change that process, Bramble says the state constitution would have to be amended, requiring a vote of the people.

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