Redistricting panel discussion held

The importance of people speaking up for representation on a city, county and state level was stressed by local officials during a panel discussion on redistricting Feb. 17 at Mott Community College.

The event, sponsored by the Flint Area League of Women Voters, included Genesee County Treasurer Deb Cherry, Flint City Clerk Inez Brown, Doreen Fulcher, Genesee County elections director, Art Reyes, Genesee County democratic party chairman, and Prudy Adam, Genesee County republican party chairman.

Paul Rozycki, professor of political science, explained that every 10 years new census data is collected specifically to reapportion and redistribute the 435 house of representatives seats based on where population densities have shifted.

This requires congressional districts to be redrawn to have equal populations. This redistricting is done on a county and municipal level based on the same data.

The U.S. Census Bureau has until the end of March to release the information.

Once the statistics are available, the county reapportionment commission has 60 days to rewrite the county district lines. This commission, which includes the county clerk, county treasurer, prosecuting attorney and chairmen of the two main political parties, currently has nine representatives, but that may change.

Michigan was the only state to lose population, according to Rozycki.

The decrease in population means that the state is projected to lose one house seat in 2012, bringing the state total to 14. As of 2010, the House requires 714,000 people for each congressional district.  Because of republican control and the partisan nature of redistricting, he said, one democrat will most likely lose their seat in the state legislature because of the new district lines.

In order to avoid gerrymandering, the drawing of election districts to favor one party or ethnicity, the process must follow guidelines of population equality, compactness of district, preservation of political units (cities, townships, counties) and preservation of racial minority rights.

Cherry and Reyes emphasized the importance of people being involved in the process when new districts are drawn. Each county district requires about 48,000 residents. There are nine members on the board now.

If the county board of commissioners shrinks, Cherry said, there will be less debate and less discussion on topics that affect everyone.

After the 60-day period for redistricting, any citizen has 30 days to appeal the new map, especially if it fails to follow legal guidelines.

According to Rozycki, the county board plays an enormous role in distributing state funds on a local level, including the road, parks and recreation and the drain commissions.

Brown said that Flint will be the last to redistrict. She said the nine city wards could decrease to seven. Brown participated in the 2000 redistricting. Although there is not a major partisan split in the city, people have to worry about how the city council (which approves the new maps) feels. The city plans to have frequent public input meetings. The locations and times will be listed in the Flint Journal, online and at City Hall.

Flint's election board, which will redraw the maps, is composed of the city attorney, clerk and assessor. She said the lines are redrawn based on population. Because of an expected loss in the north side, there is a need to expand boundaries from other parts of the city.

"I do feel that if you live in the city of Flint, you want to provide us with some input," Brown said.

The city council must approve the changes by April 2012, including new precincts, and submit them to the state of Michigan Bureau of Elections. The city must send out new registration cards 120 days before the August 2012 elections because of precinct changes to some of the 84,000 registered voters in Flint.

Brown said the city needs to make sure a person does not have to go more than a certain number of miles to be able to get to their new precinct polling station.

Jack Minore, former state house member, said that reducing the county board, which is paid for by the county's general fund, is not a cost-saving measure because it only accounts for "less than half of one percent in the budget." It is important to recognize the need for representation, he said, because this is a very diverse county and if the number of commissioners is reduced, it is probable that some communities would not be given a voice.

"Being involved, you are less likely to be a victim," Reyes stressed.