Linn supervisors narrow redistricting choices, will decide Friday

Linn County supervisors will probably decide Friday on the county's new election districts, picking one of three possible maps.

The three plans, differing by only a precinct here and there, were developed by County Auditor Joel Miller's election staff. They follow the basic outline of the map drawn by the state Legislative Services Agency after the county's initial proposal was rejected by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz:

• Two Cedar Rapids districts, split north-south through the central part of the city.
• A third Cedar Rapids-majority district covering most of the southwest quadrant, a few precincts in the southeast, and extending south through the College Community area to the county line.
• A district that covers Marion and rural precincts to the east, extending from Central City south to the Cedar River.
• A huge, U-shaped "doughnut" district wrapping around the metro area and covering the rest of rural Linn County.

The two rejected maps would have required a variance from Schultz's office because their populations slightly exceeded the allowed variation from a statiscal mean.

"Let's not even go there," said Supervisor Linda Langston. "I don't want to have any problems with the secretary of state."

County Auditor Joel Miller urged the supervisor to challenge Schultz's rejection of their initial map, which would have allowed the chance for more supervisors from rural districts.

"We're having this totally imposed on us," said Miller.

The supervisors will probably make their final choice when they meet Friday at 1 p.m. at Linn County West at Westdale Mall.