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Republicans file 2 lawsuits challenging redistricting maps
Republican critics of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission will file two lawsuits that seek to force the redrawing of the commission’s approved legislative and congressional districts.
Microtargeting: Election profiteering or political precision?
For a hefty price, campaigns can get their hands on some surprising details about everyday people, then use that information to influence election outcomes. But “microtargeting,” as it's known, is no longer reserved for large, national campaigns. It's coming to a race near you.
Brewer: No special session without “clear path to victory” at the ballot
Gov. Jan Brewer today said she won’t call a special legislative session to either repeal or reform the independent redistricting process, despite calls from some lawmakers that she do so this week.
The governor’s emphatic statement, which was released after she met with House Speaker Andy Tobin and Senate President Steve Pierce, means the chances of lawmakers convening by tomorrow t[...]
Judge to mull whether to end redistricting probe
A judge will consider Wednesday whether to end or revitalize a civil investigation into whether Arizona's redistricting commission violated open meetings law when it selected consultants to help draw new congressional and legislative districts.
Seel suggests mapping firm retaliated for his bills
Rep. Carl Seel suggested that the Independent Redistricting Commission’s mapping consultants may have put him in a less Republican district in retaliation for his legislative record.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting, Seel, R-Phoenix, questioned why Strategic Telemetry – which has ties to Democratic candidates and causes, including Pres[...]
Horne: Redistricting commissioner claims chairwoman destroyed documents
One of Arizona’s redistricting commissioners told Attorney General Tom Horne that the commission’s chairwoman destroyed documents used to score mapping firms during a closed-door meeting.
IRC should hold itself to same standards as mapping firm
In the high-stakes job to redraw Arizona’s political districts, much has been debated about the idea of “transparency.”
The Independent Redistricting Commission, apparently concerned about the public perception of its decision to hire a mapping firm with historic ties to Democratic causes, recently established a rule intended to allay fears of partisanship driving the mapping proc[...]
IRC puts off decision on tracking media interaction
The state’s redistricting commission today moved closer to making a decision about whether it will continue require detailed tracking of all contact between its mapping firm and any member of the media.
But the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission postponed a vote so it can get more input from its attorneys, media outlets and bloggers.
Bladine disputes claim of invalid IRC contract; commission to reaffirm mapping firm
The executive director of the Independent Redistricting Commission refutes a claim that the group’s contract with its mapping firm is invalid.
There were legal ways to skin that cat
One Republican observer found recent IRC procurement contract revelations and Dem Commissioner José Herrera's statements to be signs of highly suspect commission dealings.
What we’re not IRC-ing: Map-drawing panel spends half its time meeting behind closed doors
Prior to voting to award a lucrative contract to a mapping consultant on June 29, the Independent Redistricting Commission had spent as much time in closed door executive meetings as it had before the public.
And public records held by the commission itself, as well as statements made by commissioners, indicate the IRC may have violated Arizona’s open meeting laws designed to maintain[...]
Redistricting panel hires D.C.-based, Democratically connected mapping firm
Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission decided Wednesday to hire Strategic Telemetry, a Washington D.C.-based mapping firm, to serve as the group’s mapping consultant.
