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 ... we could actually achieve the goal of keeping Ada County intact in congressional redistricting."

* Aaron White, a representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, asked the redistricting commission to "consider carefully the notion of one person one vote in making your decisions when you draw the lines, to where the percentage of voters that make the decision is more equitable, and also considering communities of interest."

* Steve Holbrook, who lives in a precinct in the Warm Springs Mesa area in east Boise, said he's heard of a plan to "move this precinct to Boise County and Idaho City." Such a move "would really concern me in terms of the offices and the elected officials that we would be able to vote for," he said. "I'm concerned even from a tax standpoint - do I have a voice in electing people who are in my county and my city offices, where my property tax goes?"

* James Philpott, of the legislative District 19 Democrats, told the commission, "Please remember your duty, remember your constitutional obligation, remember the stakeholders. We're very divided as people right now, and I would love to see this commission heal, rather than divide further."

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