Statehouse redistricting process to resume soon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The group of state appeals court judges that will draw new legislative district boundaries for the General Assembly will hold a hearing Oct. 11 at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Testimony for state Senate redistricting will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by testimony on state House redistricting. The hearing is not required by state law.

Judge Robert Ulrich of the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District in Kansas City said the panel has already met once to discuss their legal and constitutional requirements in setting new district lines for the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Ulrich declined to specify guidelines the panel will follow during the process.

The judges have until Dec. 28 to submit redistricting maps the state will use for the next 10 years, beginning with the 2002 elections.

Political control at stake

At stake is which party controls the Legislature. Republicans currently hold an 18-16 majority in the Senate, while Democrats have an 88-75 advantage in the House. Redistricting could solidify the voting-base of one political party and diminish that of the other.

The six-judge panel takes over for two bipartisan commissions -- one for each chamber -- that had first crack at the task. Neither commission could reach an agreement for submitting preliminary maps by the constitutionally mandated deadline of Aug. 28. However, the judges couldn't begin work until last Friday, when the commissions dissolved.

The Missouri Supreme Court appointed the judges serving on the panel, which includes one Democratic and one Republican appointee from each of the Court of Appeals' three districts.

Representatives of both political parties said they are awaiting instruction from the judges as to how to proceed.

"This is a huge task," said Mike Kelley, executive director of the state Democratic Party. "We have been working on this as parties for six months, and this group of six judges has to sort through this in 90 days. It is a long and hard process. There is no easy way to draw a map. I'm sure they are finding this out now."

Scott Baker, a state Republican Party spokesman, agreed.

"With this whole process you are kind of flying by the seat of your pants," Baker said. "The rules are not exactly set in stone."

Details still unclear

Although it appears there will be at least one public hearing, it is unclear if the entire process will take place in full public view, as did the work of the commissions.

Kelley said Democrats will agree with whatever the court decides on this matter.

"If they choose for this to be a closed process, we do not have any problem with that," Kelly said.

Baker said additional public hearings are unneeded.

"It's sort of been there, done that," Baker said. "Everyone had a chance to have their say and get some really good public input. There is no reason to go back and do it again."

Both party spokesmen said they only want maps that are fair to Missouri voters and both political parties. However, each side has a different view of what constitutes fair.

Districts must be redrawn following each U.S. Census to reflect population and demographic changes. But maps can be drawn in myriad ways -- and with varying partisan leanings -- and still pass constitutional muster.

While Southeast Missouri should retain its current complement of 14 representatives and three senators, it is unclear what political impact redistricting will have on the region. Previous proposals offered wide-ranging boundaries for area seats.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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