Redistricting ruckus can spur change

Gazette Editorial Board

---

Redistricting plans for supervisor districts in Iowa's two largest counties recently were rejected by the state Secretary of State's office. The pushback has caused a ruckus that just might lead to a review of how those districts are redrawn every 10 years to reflect population changes. And that move could produce the best outcome.

In both cases, the stated reason was the same: Iowa law requires the largest cities in the counties to be divided into the smallest number of districts. But other state rules require supervisor districts to be compact, contiguous and reasonably shaped. No plan is to cater to any political party or incumbent.

Linn and Polk counties both had submitted maps drawn up by county redistricting commissions that divided their biggest cities - Cedar Rapids and Des Moines - among four supervisor districts. The state said, no, it must be three.

Polk supervisors last week submitted a new plan that heeds the state decree. However, two Republican supervisors are still in the same new district. That's led to accusations of political gerrymandering.

Linn County's redistricting plan, unanimously approved by the three Democrat and two Republican supervisors, sparked no such controversy, even though it placed supervisors Linda Langston and Lu Barron, both Democrats, in the same new district. Langston has said she and her husband may move.

On Friday, Linn supervisors unanimously agreed to resubmit the map along with a letter explaining the rationale for including parts of Cedar Rapids in four districts.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Gary Jarvis has said the secretary of state's office is applying a new interpretation of the rules. Supervisors question why that office has said the rule about dividing cities is an “objective requirement,” while the other rules “are more subjective.”

We wonder, too. Linn County's plan looks fair and keeps district sizes manageable. It has bipartisan support, and ensures that the rural voters have a say in two districts. The county elections office has since produced a map that would split Cedar Rapids into three supervisor districts instead of four, as the state wants - but it also includes one rural district that is donut-shaped with a boundary running nearly 250 miles long.

That's not acceptable for constituents.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Matt Schultz said it's time to review the process and minimize the influence of political motives. Such a change could involve the Legislative Services Agency.

We think that idea has merit. The nonpartisan LSA already produces the state's legislative and congressional redistricting maps. Iowa is nationally respected for its process and the results. Why not apply it to the counties?

n Comments: thegazette.com/

category/opinion/editorial or

editorial@sourcemedia.net