GOP asks for clarified process in redistricting panel chair selection

IR State Bureau
May 14, 2009

Republican members of a panel redrawing Montana's legislative districts Thursday asked the Montana Supreme Court to clarify its process for choosing a panel chair -- and suggested five possible picks.

The GOP members also proposed criteria for choosing the chair of the five-member Districting and Apportionment Commission, which will draw new state Senate and House district boundaries for the 2014-2022 elections.

"We respectfully ask the court to clarify the appointment process at (its) first meeting, and we stress the need for a nonpartisan, neutral commission chair who will involve all parties, insist on openness and facilitate compromise," wrote Jon Bennion and Linda Vaughey.

The court has scheduled a public meeting May 22 in Helena "to consider appointment of the chair of the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission."

It has released no further details on the meeting or the appointment process.

Last week, Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike McGrath said the court hadn't discussed how it would choose a chair for the panel, although he did say the process will be open to the public.

The court is picking the commission chair because the commission's two Republican and two Democratic members could not agree on a chair at a May 7 meeting.

At that meeting, Bennion and Vaughey nominated five people to chair the panel, but Democratic members Joe Lamson and Pat Smith voted against all five nominations.

Bennion and Vaughey also voted against the only person nominated by the Democrats.

In an open letter to the Supreme Court Thursday, Bennion and Vaughey said the court should choose someone who is knowledgeable about the redistricting process, is respected by both political parties, and who insists on openness in the process.

Bennion and Vaughey also submitted the names of five people they think should be considered as chair, including four of the people already rejected by the panel's Democratic members: Political science professors Jim Lopach of Missoula, Craig Wilson of Shepherd and Jeffrey Greene of Missoula; and Joe Roberts, an attorney, lobbyist and former Democratic legislator.

Their fifth nominee is Scott Wyckman, a former justice of the peace in Bozeman.

They also said there is "a great deal of confusion" over the high court's process of choosing a commission chair, and asked the court to use the May 22 meeting to clarify the process.