March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Outlining the process of redistricting

Every 10 years Maine goes through the process of “redistricting.” It is a crucial part of our repesentative form of government. I thought I would take this opportunity, because it is such a vital process, to explain the basics of redistricting.

First, this process is also known as “apportionment” and “reapportionment.” I prefer the term “redistricting,” because I think it best defines the process.

In our republican form of government, the people of Maine elect individuals to represent them in government. Maine is represented in the federal government by two U.S. senators and two U.S. congresspeople. In state government, by 35 senators and 151 representatives. Forty-eight commissioners represent us at the county level.

U.S. senators are the only public officials in this group who represent all people of the state. All other public officials serve people living within specific geographic areas called “districts.” Redistricting concerns congressional districts, state Senate districts, state House districts, and county commissioner districts.

Redistricting is meant to ensure that Maine citizens have equal representation in government, by seeing to it that the number of people living within each district is relatively equal. In other words, district boundaries are determined by population. According to the 1990 census figures, state House districts should have approximately 8,200 people. State Senate districts include about 35,100 people. Those are average figures that can, by law, be increased or decreased by five percentage points.

Every 10 years, following the release of updated statistics from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, an Apportionment Commission of Maine compares new population figures with old and, wherever necessary, redraws district boundary lines to again ensure equal representation in government.

The Apportionment Commission of Maine includes four state senators and six state representatives, equally divided between Republicans and Democrats. These elected officials are appointed to the commission by their respective legislative leaders. In addition, the state party chairmen each appoint a commission member. The 10 state legislators then select one “public” person to serve on the commission. These two public members decide on the commission chairperson.

I am very fortunate, as a first-term member of the Maine Senate, to have been appointed to this commission; to have been elected by the Republicans to serve as commission chairperson of our caucus. I am, in that capacity, lead negotiator designated to speak for all Republican commission members. I take my responsibility very seriously, and am honored by the opportunity to be involved in such a process.

Redistricting should be straightforward. Unfortunately, it can become complicated when politically there is much at stake. Let me give an example of a situation common to the redistricting process.

Imagine an area in state that, according to 1980 census figures, had sufficient residents for two House districts. Each House districts has one state representative. One is a Republican; the other a Democrat. Suppose 10 years later, in 1990, many area residents have relocated, and the number of current residents is enough for just one state representative.

Another likely, more complex, scenario, involves three House districts, where the population now entitles that area to only two state representatives. The commission’s job is to redraw the boundary lines so that the three districts become two. Which district, then, is incorporated into the others when two have state representatives of one political party and the third district legislator belongs to the other political party?

I think you can see how some commission members might have a tendency to redraw district boundaries to their political advantage. This practice is unacceptable to me and should be unacceptable to the general public.

Carving up district boundaries for political advantage is called “gerrymandering.” I agree with the late chairman of the Republican National Committee Lee Atwater who said, “If district lines are drawn to create a `Republican seat’ or a `Democrat seat,’ the outcome of elections is predetermined. And no competition between the parties means no competition between ideas; and no real choices or role for the voters.”

My goal as Republican chairperson of the Apportionment Commission is to, wherever and whenever possible, maintain the integrity of town boundaries so that townspeople have a clear idea of who their state legislators are. I want to make it as simple as possible for people to say, “I live in this town. This is my state legislator.” It seems to me always preferable to have any one town represented by a single legislator. I believe it is important, for the same reasons, to work to maintain the integrity of county and school district boundaries.

These boundary lines form a sense of community. My priority, and I hope the commission’s priority, is to retain that sense of community. It is sometimes the nature of the “redistricting beast” that towns, for example, must be divided by district boundary lines. However, such a maneuver should always be as a last resort and never for political advantage.

Historically, redistricting has been a very political process; a way in which political parties protect their own. I intend to look above that approach, so that, as I participate in the commission’s work, I will be concerned first with what is in the best interest of the people of Maine.

Redistricting, as I have mentioned, is a serious part of our political process. I hope the voter interest in government that I witnessed in the last election will sustain itself and motivate citizens to stay on top of the redistricting. I will do my best to keep the public apprised of this process, which happens only once every decade, and is so vitally important for equal representation throughout the state. Sen. Dana C. Hanley R-Paris


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