Commission invites input on proposed redistricting
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PABLO — The Montana Districting and Apportionment Committee is responsible for mapping new legislative district boundaries to reflect population changes identified by the 2010 census, according to Jim Regnier, chair of the commission and former Montana Supreme Court Justice.
On March 14, the MDAC held the third of 14 public hearings statewide at the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council Chambers to give voters a chance to air their views on the five proposed maps.
“The maps are just starting points,” Regnier stressed, adding that the ideal size for each legislative district is 9,894 people.
During the two-hour meeting, area residents gave their opinions.
One comment came from Jim Simpson, Polson, who said Lake County has a population of about 28,000, or about three house seats. The proposed redistricting would carve Lake County up with adjacent counties into five to seven districts.
“Dividing the county reduces our ability to speak with a unified voice,” Simpson explained.
Opponents of the maps worry that if school districts and legislative districts are chopped into pieces, it will make it harder to vote for school board trustees and legislative members who will represent Lake County voters as a whole. One map, for instance, has Ronan School District in three different legislative districts.
Giving testimony for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council, vice chair Carole Lankford said 20 years ago Mickey Pablo, then the CSKT chairman, presented testimony before the commission “requesting that you create a majority Indian House district on the Flathead Reservation, combined with the Blackfeet...”
Although the commission rejected the district, in 2002, the MDAC did draw the Blackfeet-Flathead majority House and Senate district.
“It is important to ensure that the Indian vote is not diluted,” Lankford stressed.
The CSKT are in support of the communities plan, she added, since it creates the strongest Indian majority house district, recognizes communities of interest and creates a fair balance.
To see the suggested maps, visit the MDAC website at www.leg.mt.gov/districting.
To e-mail the committee, go to districting@mt.gov, fax them at 405 444-3036 or mail a comment or suggestion to Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission, P.O. Box 20176, Helena, MT 59620-1706.
