Only about 40 minutes in to the first public hearing on redistricting, the public testimony is all done. "I think we're realizing more and more the complexity and some of the problems we're going to be faced with," said Allen Andersen, the citizen redistricting commission's…
Among those testifying to the redistricting commission tonight: * Jeff Almeida, former vice chairman of the Ada Democrats, said, "A number of us have submitted maps to you already" to demonstrate "the feasibility of keeping Ada County intact." He said, "Given the population shifts ...…
Among those testifying tonight at the first public hearing on redistricting is Phil McGrane, chief deputy to Ada County Clerk Chris Rich. He pleaded with the panel to use roads as boundaries, rather than things that can move over the course of 10 years, like…
At the first public hearing on redistricting this evening, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter was the first to testify. "Our request is that you keep cities whole in this process," Bieter told the Idaho citizen redistricting commission. "I do believe that will be a consistent thing…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's first meeting of the state's bipartisan citizen redistricting commission; here, new redistricting commissioner Lorna Finman of Rathdrum, right, visits with state GOP Executive Director Jonathan Parker, left, during a break in today's meeting. Tonight…
Former redistricting commissioners Dean Haagenson, a Republican from Coeur d'Alene, and Tom Stuart, a Democrat from Boise, told the new commissioners this afternoon that they've got a tough task ahead of them. Haagenson said he jumped at the chance to offer advice to new commissioners,…
Brian Kane, deputy Idaho attorney general, is now briefing the redistricting commission on legal issues, from constitutional and statutory requirements for the redistricting process to complying with the Idaho Open Meeting Law and Idaho public records law. In response to a question from Commissioner George…
BSU political scientist Gary Moncrief offered this advice to Idaho's new bipartisan citizen redistricting commissioners this morning, displayed on a Powerpoint slide under the heading, "My Humble Recommendations:" "Use the staff. Understand there are more issues than just partisanship. Understand there will be a lawsuit.…
Idaho's current legislative districts will "have to be substantially changed" this year, BSU political scientist Gary Moncrief told the redistricting commission this morning, whose job it is to draw those new district lines. That's because the ideal district size, should Idaho stick with 35 legislative…
Before U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the early 1960s required states to divide their legislative districts by population, rather than just by county lines, most states had districts that allowed just a small minority of the state's population to elect a majority of the state…
Today's Idaho redistricting commission meeting is being streamed live on the Internet, as is tonight's public hearing, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Capitol Auditorium; to listen and watch live, click here. After electing its co-chairs this morning, the commission is now hearing an…
Former state Sen. Evan Frasure of Pocatello, and former state Rep. Allen Andersen, also of Pocatello, have been elected the co-chairmen of the citizen redistricting commission; Frasure is a Republican and Andersen a Democrat. Rathdrum GOP Commissioner Lorna Finma nominated Frasure as the GOP co-chair,…
Idaho's Citizen Commission for Reapportionment has convened this morning. "You have an arduous task ahead of you," Secretary of State Ben Ysursa told the six new commissioners. "I think you're all up to it. The 90 days starts counting today." The bipartisan panel has 90…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
