KEEP REDISTRICTING OFF BALLOT, COURT URGED
South Florida Sun-Sentinel ( Fort Lauderdale , FL )
February 10, 2006
Author: Bill Kaczor The Associated Press
A proposed constitutional amendment that would strip state legislators of their power to redraw legislative and congressional districts should be kept off the ballot, attorneys for several state and federal legislators told the Florida Supreme Court on Thursday.
The citizen initiative would set up a 15-member commission to handle redistricting every 10 years. Sponsors have collected the 611,000 signatures needed to put the amendment on the Nov. 7 ballot if the high court approves.
The lawyers who argued against the amendment, state Rep. Dudley Goodlette and former Rep. Barry Richard, said it would violate a ballot requirement because legislative and congressional redistricting are separate matters. Ballot questions are required to contain only one subject.
They also contended the ballot summary is misleading because it says the commission would be selected through a "nonpartisan method."
"What it tells the voters is parties play no part in the selection methodology," Richard said. "Nothing could be father from the truth."
But a lawyer for the amendment's sponsor, the Committee for Fair Elections, disagreed.
"The dictionary definition of 'nonpartisan' says it's not controlled by any one political party," Mark Herron told the justices.
The Senate president, House speaker -- both now Republicans -- and a minority party designee from each chamber each would appoint three members. The Supreme Court chief justice also would select three commissioners who have not been registered in either of the major parties for the two previous years.
Herron argued that legislative and congressional redistricting is a single subject.
Edition: Broward Metro
Section: LOCAL
Page: 6B
Index Terms: FLORIDA CONSTITUTION DISTRICT CHANGE
Dateline: TALLAHASSEE
Copyright 2006 Sun-Sentinel Company
Record Number: 0602091160
