Secretary of State testimony
in support of H.J.R. 13, redistricting
January 26, 2000
Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio Secretary of State
House Technology and Elections Committee
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY. I AM HERE TO LEND MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR HJR 13 – A RESOLUTION THAT WILL BRING A REFRESHING FAIRNESS TO OHIO’S REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
I APPLAUD THE OHIO LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR THEIR DOGGED DETERMINATION IN FORWARDING THIS PROPOSAL. AND I LAUD REPRESENTATIVES AMSTUTZ AND SYKES. FIRST FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS LEGISLATION AND THEN FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. THEY INTRODUCED THIS RESOLUTION IN THE OHIO HOUSE, REACHED A CONSENSUS AMONG LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND – THROUGH STATESMANSHIP AND COMPROMISE – ARE MOVING THIS MEASURE FORWARD WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
NOT AT ALL A SIMPLE FEAT, CONSIDERING THE POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP AND HIGH STAKES ASSOCIATED WITH THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS. OHIOANS DESERVE MORE. OHIOANS DESERVE FAIRNESS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS. AND THEY DESERVE THAT PROCESS TO BE CONDUCTED IN AN OPEN MANNER.
THIS MEASURE ENSURES FAIRNESS IN EQUAL REPRESENTATION. IT MAINTAINS OHIO’S CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT ALL DISTRICTS REPRESENT AN EQUAL NUMBER OHIOANS. IT RE-EMPHASIZES AND REINFORCES THE PRINCIPLE OF "ONE MAN, ONE VOTE."
HJR 13 ALSO ENSURES FAIRNESS IN COMMUNITY COHESION. IT REQUIRES US TO CONSIDER CITY AND COUNTY BOUNDARIES FIRST WHEN DRAWING LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE VOTERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIAL. IF A COMMUNITY IS SPLIT, THE FOCUS OF THE COMMUNITY IS ALSO SPLIT.
AND HJR 13 ENSURES FAIRNESS IN GEOGRAPHICAL COMPACTNESS. ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO JUGGLE DIVERGENT NEEDS OF CONSTITUENTS IN OBSCURELY DRAWN DISTRICTS CONSTRUCTED PURELY FOR POLITICAL GAIN.
THIS RESOLUTION IS BROUGHT TO YOU TODAY WITH THE NOBLE INTENTION OF BRINGING OPENNESS AND PUBLIC SCRUTINY TO OUR REDISTRICTING PROCESS. WE MUST, HOWEVER, BE PREPARED TO COMPETENTLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY CONDUCT THIS REFORM. WE MUST PLAN.
WE MUST CLARIFY THE METHOD IN WHICH WE WILL DISTRIBUTE POPULATION DATA TO CITIZENS PARTICIPATING IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS. WE MUST DETERMINE THE FORMAT IN WHICH WE WILL RECEIVE REDISTRICTING PLANS. AND OF COURSE, THOUGHT ALSO NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO THE RESOURCES WE SHOULD DEVOTE TO THIS PROPOSAL.
THE IDEA OF A "DRESS REHEARSAL" IS BEING DISCUSSED TO HELP WITH THIS PLANNING. I WOULD URGE THAT WE CONSIDER SUCH A PROPOSAL TO HELP US IDENTIFY ISSUES THAT MAY NEED ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION.
IN CLOSING, I REITERATE THAT HJR 13 IS A REFRESHING REFORM. IT IS GOOD GOVERNMENT. I WOULD URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION BOTH NOW AND WHEN IT APPEARS BEFORE OHIO VOTERS. LET’S MAKE OHIO’S REDISTRICTING PROCESS MORE OPEN.
THANK YOU.
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