Trust elected officials to redraw districts

Paper: Poughkeepsie Journal (NY)

Date: June 15, 2007

My colleague, Dutchess County Legislator William McCabe's May 11 Valley Views ("Let independent panel draw district lines") criticizing the current electoral districts and complaining about the defeat of his bill to revamp election districts was neither convincing nor accurate. There were serious problems with his proposed legislation that doomed it to defeat. Likewise the explanations offered in his column were misleading.

He decries the current make-up of electoral districts and calls them "gerrymandered," a term that implies the political majority skewered district lines to their benefit. The facts speak otherwise. His politically charged claim ignores the fact that in 2002, when county legislative districts were last redrawn, a Republican represented his town(s), whereas now he, a member of the minority, has twice been elected to the so-called "gerrymandered" seat. Intentionally gerrymandered districts would also likely not resemble the current 13-12 split in the Dutchess County Legislature.

It is also worth emphasizing he was not a member of the Legislature in 2002, to have firsthand knowledge of the detail that went into the reappointment; nor was the Poughkeepsie Journal reporter whom McCabe cites in his op/ed.

I was a legislator when the election districts were reapportioned and can attest to the careful scrutiny with which legislative districts were drawn. It is true there was some controversy the last time the districts were realigned - expected because the Legislature was downsizing from 35 election districts to 25 as a result of a 1997 voter mandate. The decision to downsize - at a considerable cost savings to the electorate - eliminated 10 positions. Naturally there would be some complaints; after all, 35 legislators were voting to let the voters decide which 10 would not return.

What his column leaves out is the process - which over the course of two years involved multiple public hearings and input from all quarters - was fair, thought-out, and took into consideration Dutchess County's changing demographics.

What is the most pertinent here (and why his proposed legislation was dead on arrival) is the legislation, to its detriment, sought to have districts drawn by people other than elected officials. A leading reason why his bill failed was precisely because McCabe sought to exclude the very members of the Legislature who had won the support of Dutchess County's voters through the political process.

Because America is a representative democracy, decisions with such important and tremendous impact as legislative districts need to be made by people who are duly chosen by the electorate - not political appointees, party leaders or others. Contrary to Legislator McCabe's assertions, power-sharing with political appointees is not in the best interest of voters.

Take on difficult tasks

His bill went on to give redistricting powers to the courts in the event the Legislature refused to approve the work-product of these appointees, at which point there would be a third party asked to make the decision. This is not leadership on the part of elected officials, but avoidance of difficult work. The constitutional issues of separation of powers notwithstanding, the Dutchess County Legislature is capable of governing itself through its representative government, not capitulating its responsibilities to courts. Dutchess County does not need its policies determined by expensive, taxpayer-funded court cases.

Legislator McCabe was privy to these valid concerns and criticisms of his proposed legislation during the four-month period his bill was being considered by the county Legislature. While he pulled his bill once to revise it - presumably with hopes of gaining the support to pass it - his amendments still did not vest authority for redistricting in the very people that the people of Dutchess County elected to represent them. It is no surprise his flawed bill was defeated.

With still three years to go before the 2010 census, there is still plenty of time for the Dutchess County Legislature to consider redistricting. Hopefully next time, legislation will come forward that better respects and reflects the proper roles and responsibilities of government. When it does, I predict the Legislature will embrace it.

Gerald Hutchings is a county legislator representing the Town of Beekman.

Author: READERS Gerald Hutchings

Section: OPINION

Page: 12A