Commissioners choose new Linn County electoral map

Thursday afternoon's selection of a new electoral map for Linn County puts two current county supervisors in the same district and creates one new district without current representation.

That could change: Supervisor Linda Langston has said she and her husband are considering a move from their southeast Cedar Rapids home. The new map places Langston in new District 5 with fellow Democrat Lu Barron, currently representing District 1.

Langston may want to look south, across the Cedar River in what will become District 1 if the new map, known by the working title 5B, is adopted after a public hearing. The new District 1 stretches south of the river from Putnam Township to Benton County, taking in sections of southwest Cedar Rapids and Fairfax.

That river boundary was a point in redistricting commissioners' debate before their unanimous voice vote. An alternative would have created a larger district anchored in the county's southeast corner covering both sides of the river.

"I think we get caught up in the river as a dividing line, and I think it would be healthy to get away from that," said Commissioner Bill McCartan of Cedar Rapids, citing the east-west rivalry often apparent in the city's politics.

The commissioners quickly disposed of a third proposal more closely resembling the present map. The remaining options had nearly identical scores on the state's formula for population and geographical size. Each supervisor's district must be within 1 percent of the ideal 42,245, with no more than a 5-percent difference, and the state encourages districts to be as compact as possible.

"I think we could all live with either one," said Commission Chairman Mike Wyrick. "The river, as much as we sometimes don't want it to be, is definitely a natural divider."

The chosen map has slightly more even population distribution, Wyrick said.

The commissioners also re-numbered districts to avoid putting five of the county's six seats up for election next fall. Under state law, elections must be held in 2012 for Districts 2,3, and 4. And because the new southern district has no incumbent, an election is required there, too.

Under the renumbering, the new district becomes District 2.  Incumbents Ben Rogers, D-Cedar Rapids, and Brent Oleson, R-Marion, remain in districts with the same numbers - 3 and 4 respectively - but altered outlines.

Current District 5 Supervisor John Harris, R-Palo, will live in the new District 1.

The commissioners also voted to combine Bertram Township and Marion's Squaw Creek neighborhood in a new election precinct that will vote at Antioch Christian Church, 7215 Cottage Grove Pkwy., Marion. The proposed move would reduce the number of polling places the county must equip and staff.

All the proposed changes are subject to public comment. The commissioners scheduled the public hearing for 7 p.m. Aug. 29 in the county boardroom at Linn County West in Westdale Mall.