Cedar Rapids to host redistricting hearing April 6

A first look at the shape of the future of Iowa politics will be unveiled March 31.

That's when the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency and Temporary Redistricting Commission reveal their first proposed congressional and legislative redistricting plan at 8:15 a.m. at the Capitol.

The map will show new boundaries for 100 Iowa House districts and 50 Iowa Senate districts. However, the highlight is likely to be boundaries for four new congressional districts. Iowa has five now, but based on the 2010 census, will lose one districts because population has not grown as fast as in other states – states that will gain congressional seats.

The plan will be the topic of four public hearings, including one in Cedar Rapids April 6 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the ICN Room at Kirkwood Community College, 104 Washington Hall, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW.

The other hearings will be in Council Bluffs April 4, Bettendorf April 5 and Des Moines April 7.

For the Cedar Rapids hearing, the following ICN sites will be interactive with the Cedar Rapids site: Keystone Area Education Agency, 2310 Chaney Rd., Dubuque; Great Prairie Area Education Agency, 2814 N. Court St., Ottumwa; and Hawkeye Community College, 1501 E. Orange Rd., Waterloo.

For more information, click here.

Anyone wishing to make comments about the proposed plan at a hearing may contact the Legislative Information Office at (515) 281-5129. Those requesting to make comments from an ICN site will be listed in order for that particular ICN site.

Oral presentations will be limited to three minutes for each presenter. It is not required that those requesting to speak register in advance, but those registering to speak at the hearing location will be called upon to speak after those who registered prior to the hearing.

It is not required that speakers provide written copies of their testimony, but written testimony will be accepted and will be made available to commission members. Written testimony will be accepted either by mail e-mail if it is received on before April 7. Written testimony must include the name and address of the author.

For more information, contact Craig Cronbaugh, Legislative Information Office, (515) 281-5129 or craig.cronbaugh@legis.state.ia.us

For more on the redistricting process, click

here and

here.