No to gerrymandering

Public Forum Letter
The Salt Lake Tribune
January 23, 2010

Citizens arise! After the 2000 Census, the boundaries of congressional and Utah Senate and House districts were gerrymandered to favor the majority party in the Legislature. The result split close-knit neighborhoods and ethnic groups, while combining others with very few shared interests.

To achieve a more equitable redistricting following the 2010 Census, the Fair Boundaries Coalition wants the voters in the general election next November to establish an independent commission to advise the Legislature on where to draw voting district boundaries. For this purpose, petitions are being circulated all around the state. Around 95,000 signatures of registered voters must be obtained by mid-April to place this issue on the ballot.

The Utah Citizens' Counsel, consisting of 15 concerned senior Utahns (Robert Archuleta, Genevieve Atwood, Aileen Clyde, Gale Dick, Irene Fisher, David Irvine, Boyer Jarvis, Chase Peterson, Grethe Peterson, Bonner Ritchie, Dee Rowland, Karl Snow, Emma Lou Thayne, Raymond Uno and Olene Walker), urge all registered voters to sign the petition (see www.fairboundaries.org).

Twenty-one states have an independent redistricting commission. Utahns will benefit from such a group guiding our Legislature.

Karl Snow Former Utah Senate majority leader

Provo