Redistricting plan in works - Independent panel would draw boundaries

Paper: Columbus Dispatch, The (OH)

Date: April 25, 2006

A plan to revamp the way Ohio draws legislative and congressional districts will be unveiled in May and possibly placed on the Nov. 7 ballot as a constitutional amendment, House Speaker Jon A. Husted said yesterday.

Instead of letting the majority party gerrymander districts to its liking, the Kettering Republican and others are working to place the map-drawing process in the hands of an independent seven-member panel, designed so neither party gets a numerical advantage.

"We think it's a good reform plan that will change Ohio for the better, but we've got to iron out the details. We're getting close," Husted said.

A key detail, Democrats say, is how much competitiveness should factor into the process. Voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would have made competitiveness the foremost component in drawing districts every 10 years.

Political factors also are in play, as Democrats anticipate their best opportunity in more than a decade to wrest control of the district-drawing State Apportionment Board by winning key statewide offices in the Nov. 7 election. Husted said he was unsure how much Democratic support there would be in the House to put a proposal on the fall ballot.

The apportionment board draws state House and Senate districts, based on new census figures. The legislature draws congressional borders, but it must be signed by the governor -- an office Democrats think they can win this year.

"I don't know where the Democrats are going to fall out," Husted said. "Some of the Democrats who have their hearts in the right place on public policy might be good with the proposal, but there might be a division between them and those who want to play out the election and see if they can get control of the process that way."

Based on how Republicans have dealt with campaign-finance and election changes, Rep. Steven L. Driehaus, D-Cincinnati, said he's skeptical of their intentions.

In Ohio, many Democrats are concentrated in the state's urban areas. If a plan calls for compact districts, but not competitiveness, Driehaus said it could lead to the same GOP-dominated maps that are in place today, where Democrats are packed into a small number of districts.

"Unless Republicans are working toward making competitive districts in Ohio, they are going to have difficulty getting to 60 votes," he said.

Ed Jerse, a member of the Reform Ohio Now coalition that tried unsuccessfully to change redistricting in 2005, said he remains hopeful that all sides will agree on a plan.

He has been talking to GOP leaders as the idea develops.

"At one point we were comfortable with it, but then I think (Rep. Kevin) DeWine backed away," Jerse said, referring to discussions of making districts competitive.

"I think it can be done."

DeWine, of Fairborn, is the House Republican point person on election issues.

"I'm a fan of being less prescriptive and letting that commission deal with the issues that come about," DeWine said. "The issues in 2011 may be different than the issues in 2021."

Officials from Reform Ohio Now and a handful of House Republicans and Democrats are scheduled to meet to discuss the ballot issue Thursday.

"We've got a lot of educating to do," Husted said of his Republican members.

"I think most people who are fair-minded will see that there needs to be something done that makes this process fair."

It's unclear how much support the measure would have in the Senate, where President Bill M. Harris, R-Ashland, has never mentioned it as a priority issue.

To get on the ballot, the issue needs a three-fifths majority in each chamber.

jhallett@dispatch.com

jsiegel@dispatch.com

Author: Joe Hallett and Jim Siegel THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Section: News

Page: 01D