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Free redistricting tool uses incredible power of ‘crowdsourcing’
In regards to the article, “Commissioners eye free mapping software, say it could be used differently than creators intended” Arizona Capitol Times, May 8, we offer the following to address concerns noted by some of the members of Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission.
It’s never personal
Herrera said that the commission's split on who to appoint as legal counsel stemmed from a theoretical disagreement with Republicans on how the panel should be represented.
Commissioners eye free mapping software, say it could be used differently than creators intended
Although all five members of Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission have said they're either aware of, or had logged into, the online mapping software that was released to the public recently by the Arizona Competitive Districts Coalition, which has a stated goal of increasing the number of “competitive districts,” they don't all agree about how it will be used.
Evan Wyloge discusses the Independent Redistricting Commission’s current tasks
Arizona Capitol Times reporter Evan Wyloge discusses what the state's redistricting commission is doing this week, in their efforts to eventually deliver Arizona's new political maps later this year.
Two remain for IRC executive director post
During a closed-door executive session last week, Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission selected the final two candidates vying to serve as the agency’s executive director.
The commission interviewed five candidates, selected from among several dozen more, for several hours during the private April 14 meeting, then chose two of the five for additional interviews April 20 [...]
Redistricting panel weighs disclosure requirements
The word “transparency” gets tossed around a lot these days. Activists demand it and politicians promise it. As Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission prepares to redraw the lines that will define the state’s congressional and legislative districts, exactly what level of transparency the commission will achieve remains unclear.
Lujan launches IRC watchdog business
Rural groups looking to keep tabs on the IRC will have friends in Lujan and Dem lobbyist Mario Diaz.
IRC budget based on experience and guesswork
The last statement James Huntwork made as a member of the first Independent Redistricting Commission in his last meeting in June 2009 was that the next IRC would need “a lot of money.”
How much money the newly seated IRC will need is a mystery.
But the thinking of those involved with the first one is that the legal disputes, which consumed so much money last time, will be[...]
Will redistrict for food
A murmur went through the gallery at the IRC's Feb. 24 meeting when O'Connor House President Lucia Howard told the panel the IRC has been appropriated only $500,000 in the current budget, while the inaugural commission spent about $9.5 million.
IRC choice for chairman: Independent Colleen Mathis
The four partisan members of the Independent Redistricting Commission appointed a politically independent chairwoman on Tuesday, and made public pledges to cooperate with each other through what some believe will turn into anything but a nonpartisan task.
Like a good neighbor…
Based on recent history, observers of Arizona's second independent redistricting process predicted a partisan fight among IRC commissioners, but several signs are pointing in the opposite direction.
Pederson: IRC ‘didn’t work out’ last time
Jim Pederson, who played a pivotal role in creating the IRC, told our reporter he was confident in how the redistricting process is shaping up this year, even though he was disappointed with the past results.
