The Need for Re-Districting, by Legislator Bill McCabe
As has been pointed out by the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) and participants at the 2005 Public Issues Forum on Dysfunctional Democracy at Dutchess Community College, co-sponsored by the Poughkeepsie Journal, one central issue of concern to citizens is whether voters choose their legislators OR the legislators choose their voters. Under our present system the latter is too often the case.
In the April 30th edition of the Journal, David Paulsen correctly reported that in a party-line vote a majority of the Government Services Committee of the Dutchess County Legislature rejected my proposal for a county law that would require an independent committee to draw Legislative District lines for the county. As a Dutchess County Legislator it is my firm belief that it is time to end the practice known as gerrymandering, which results when legislators can draw their own district lines.
Here in Dutchess County after the 1990 and 2000 census reports, we experienced contentious, expensive court hearings that wasted taxpayer dollars. Initial proposals were so egregiously gerrymandered that the courts ordered new maps, resulting in new lines that minimally met court requirements but still produced odd shaped districts, involved political retribution towards members of both political parties, and gave preferential treatment to those in positions of power and influence.
Re-districting is an issue on a State level as well, affecting District lines for Assembly, State Senate, and US Congress. Legislation to reform the State process has been introduced in the Assembly and State Senate and has a good chance of passing, especially since it is on the agenda of our new governor. The proposed reform for Dutchess County is patterned on that proposed State legislation. I and my co-sponsors have examined established and proposed legislation from other counties and States to find the best practices. While the Legislature must by law approve a final map, the process should not be in the hands of Legislators. Simply put, our proposal calls for a 5 member Independent Advisory Committee to submit a map based on the guidelines of Population Equity, Contiguity, Unity of Villages and Towns, and Compactness.
This is the right time to reform the process, so it can be in place before the 2010 census. Despite the refusal of the members of the majority party in the Dutchess County Legislature to reform the self-serving practice of gerrymandering, I am confident that this issue will be addressed again in 2008 when it can next be submitted to the Dutchess County Legislature and, with the pressure of voters, will be passed.
Bill McCabe, Dutchess County Legislator, District 13 (LaGrange, Union Vale, and Wappinger) 81 Darren Rd., LaGrangeville, NY 12540 (Phone: 223-5734)