Can a process be “transparent” and the end product not be apparent after a week or more?
I’ve mentioned before the fallacy put forth by legislative Republicans that they presided over a redistricting process that was “open and transparent.”
Yet we reach toward ten days for the House and three for the Senate since compromise state district maps were approved and people all over the state are trying to figure exactly where district lines are.
I admit to computer illiteracy. But there are legislators in both the House and Senate today who still have no idea where their 2022 district lines are.
That’s ridiculous. That’s not “transparent.” While leaders may not be trying to hide what they’ve done, they’re in no hurry to educate the public.
Figuring out what district one is in days, weeks or months after its passed by the legislature is a bit late.
Legislators conducted a statewide “listening tour” to find out how the public felt about redistricting, then cut constituents out of reviewing the final product before passing it.
Legislative leaders touch the double-edged sword when they insist they know where boundaries are, even if voters do not. If you do in fact know, Senators and Delegates, you likely are hiding them from the public.
The maps on the legislative websites are virtually useless. Certainly the ones on the Senate side are of limited value.
In decades past with Democrats in charge, one could look at the first draft maps and at least find the Coal River. Try doing that with the first 2021 versions. You can’t even locate the Cabell County courthouse.
Over the next several days, we’ll take a look at each potential race for 2022. We could have done it sooner if we just had transparency and a reliable set of maps.
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There’s plenty of intrigue in the growing Eastern Panhandle, where fascinating contests appear on the agenda.
It seems the powers-that-redistrict chose to push former Republican legislator and Governor candidate Michael Folk out of the 16th district.
Folk told me he owns two pieces of property in the new 16th but doesn’t actually live there. Obviously, he could pull a Ken Reed and claim one of those as his “home.” He said he might do that but has not made up his mind.
He could also run for the House.
We’ll examine it all in the weeks ahead.
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Speaking of the Eastern Panhandle, where they take politics seriously, there’s already lots of energy around Berkeley County school board races.
Betty Dehaven and Tiffany Wallech are already campaigning on the hot topic. Both are “anti-vax” candidates opposed to mandatory Covid vaccinations.
Reach Ron Gregory at 304-533-5185 or ronjgregory@gmail.com.