Cartoon of the original Massachusetts redistricting map that started the name Gerrymander
Our Founding Fathers required a census every ten years to make sure there was appropriate representation. Indeed, what matters to people is evident in what they keep track of, what we count. People matter. Our representative democracy was founded on ONE MAN-ONE VOTE. We have subsequently come to welcome into the voting booth women, different racial groups and even some excluded religious groups. (One of the hottest issues discussed at the Idaho Constitutional convention was whether Mormons would be allowed to vote.)
Every ten years, in response to the census, Idaho resets the district boundaries. Currently I represent District 6, which is all of Latah County. But our district needs more population for fair representation so our borders need to expand. This last summer a commission was appointed to come up with a solution. They took testimony around the state and I testified when they came to Moscow. I posed that it made the most sense, given the constitutional guidelines and our geography and trade patterns to combine Latah County with Benewah County.
My opponent in the last election and his campaign manager and two of his supporters testified that they thought Latah County should be split up, with the rural areas separated from Moscow. This would combine folks who had “similar interests”. They also drove up to Coeur d’ Alene to testify a second time.
I don’t think our founding fathers expected us all to agree or only be represented by people we agreed with. One of the beauties of a representative democracy is how it tends toward balance. Even if an election is a landslide (55-45), the elected official still represents the 45% that voted against him. That is the job; it shouldn’t be easy.
The first commission couldn’t agree on a map for redistricting so a second one was appointed. They proposed combining Latah and Benewah counties. Some folks aren’t happy about the arrangement and have filed suit. Benewah County is party to that lawsuit. We should have a decision from the Idaho Supreme court in the next couple weeks. I’m hoping the recommended map is upheld. Then I plan to go up to St. Maries to visit the commissioners and get to know folks.