Keep Your Eyes Peeled on Redistricting!

The Commissioners are actually considering our proposal for redistricting the county. 2010 is the last chance to do so for quite a few years, so we need to encourage them to do so! Read the article below, and click on the links at the right to email/call your council members and Commissioners. They need to know that you care. Let your voice be heard!

To write a letter to the editor for the Daily Reporter, email David Hill:

dhill@greenfieldreporter.com

What About Redistricting?

What's so funny about redistricting? When our County Commissioners were asked about the subject, their response was to wait until the upcoming census. They don't seem to get it. Redistricting is not simply about population. It's about fairness.

As Hancock County is currently divided, any candidate from a more populated area is almost a slam-dunk to be elected. Why should rural Blue River township be coupled with all of Greenfield? Why should District One include the entire northern third of the county plus most of Eastern Hancock? How can a representative from Fortville/McCordsville really have their finger on the pulse of Wilkinson, Willow Branch or Charlottesville?

The largely rural eastern third of the county is getting the short end of the stick. Essentially, those residents are left without adequate representation. Your issues are either being ignored, given lip service, or put on the back burner. Our representatives know that if they can win the towns and cities, they will win the election. Why bother reaching out to the people from the less populated areas, when the votes are in the towns?

Hancock County's districts are gerrymandered for the benefit of the politicians- not the citizens. This needs to change. I urge you to read John Priore's comprehensive study below, with proposed changes. Make up your own mind and contact your Commissioners if you agree.

Notes for Committee on Local Government Efficiencies
Subject: Disproportionate and Unequal Representation

Disproportionate and unequal representation is a major problem in Hancock County, which needs to be resolved immediately. As currently drawn, the boundaries for County Council do not guarantee all geographic areas of the County are equally and fairly represented on the County Council. It is my opinion that the current boundaries for County Council basically constitute de facto gerrymandering. The current boundaries placed candidates for office from the rural eastern areas of the County at a distinct disadvantage and effectively eliminate any candidate from the eastern half of the County from ever getting elected to the Council.

Currently, the predominately rural eastern townships of Green, Brown, Jackson, Blue River, and to a lesser degree Brandywine are generally excluded from ever getting one oi their residents elected to the County Council. For purposes of electing County Council members, these townships have been split up and parceled out to the more populous incorporated areas with whom they have totally different and competing interests and demographics. Accordingly, the eastern part of the County which is basically comprised of agriculture and rural unincorporated areas goes totally unrepresented on the County Council. As a result, the Council consistently lacks representation on it with firsthand knowledge of and/or the ability to input on issues as they relate directly to a significant population and integral part of the County. It only makes sense that some type of redistricting be effected so as to better ensure the best interests of Green, Brown, Jackson, Blue River and the entire County are more fairly represented in County government.

One solution is to convert one of the At-Large seats to a designated District 5 seat comprised of Green, Brown, Jackson and Blue River. This would require State approval. Another solution not requiring State approval would be to redraw the district lines of the four existing districts so that you have a large rectangular block with Greenfield in the center, surrounded by two "L" shaped areas with the legs of the "L"'s connecting in the west and then a large rectangular block encompassing the entire area east of the Greenfield city limits.

The redistricting, proposed by me, ensures that all areas, communities and citizens within the County would be guaranteed fair and equal representation far better and more so than the current boundaries.
StudylS/032209

COUNTY COUNCIL CURRENT DISTRICTING

DISTRICT 1 (Leonard) Vernon 1, Vernon 2, Fortville 1, Fortville 2, Green 1, Brown 1, Brown 2, Jackson 1
DISTRICT 2 (Roney) Buck Creek 1, Buck Creek 2, Buck Creek 3, Buck Creek 4, Buck Creek 5, Center 1, Center 2, Center 3, Greenfield 4, Greenfield 9
DISTRICT 3 (Shelby) Center 4, Greenfield 1, Greenfield 2, Greenfield 3, Greenfield 5, Greenfield 6, Greenfield 7, Greenfield 8, Greenfield 10, Blue River 1
DISTRICT 4 (Bollander) Sugar Creek 1, Sugar Creek 2, Sugar Creek 3, Sugar Creek 4, Sugar Creek 5, Sugar Creek 6, Sugar Creek 7, Sugar Creek 8, Sugar Creek 9, Brandywine 1

AT-LARGE

Kirkwood (Center)

Pasco (Greenfield)

Richardson (Greenfield)

PROPOSED REDISTRICTING

DISTRICT 1 Buck Creek 1, Buck Creek 2, Buck Creek 3, Buck Creek 4, Buck Creek 5, Vernon 1, Vernon 2, Fortville 1, Fortville 2
DISTRICT 2 Greenfield 1, Greenfield 2, Greenfield 3, Greenfield 4,Greenfield 5, Greenfield 6, Greenfield 7, Greenfield 8, Greenfield 9, Greenfield 10,
DISTRICT 3 Green 1, Brown 1, Brown 2, Jackson 1, Blue River 1, Brandywine 1, Center 2, Center 3, Center 4
DISTRICT 4 Sugar Creek 1, Sugar Creek 2, Sugar Creek 3, Sugar Creek 4, Sugar Creek 5, Sugar Creek 6, Sugar Creek 7, Sugar Creek 8, Sugar Creek 9, Center 1
AT-LARGE (3) No Change