Batchelder Releases Statement on Apportionment Board Hearing

Release:

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Apportionment Board today held an emergency meeting to consider and accept an amendment from Rep. Sandra Williams that would strengthen voting rights in Cuyahoga County. The hearing was convened because of miscommunication related to the amendment during Wednesday’s meeting.

Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement regarding today’s Apportionment Board actions:

“I applaud the Ohio Apportionment Board for taking prompt action to consider Representative Williams’ request, which is a positive improvement to the map as a whole and will strengthen the rights of minority voters in Cuyahoga County. This is a good amendment that I believe more fully complies with the constitutional and legal requirements for the maps of the Ohio General Assembly. I am pleased that Representative Williams made this request and that the board had the opportunity to analyze and accept it for the benefit of the Cleveland-area community.”

Ohio's New Congressional District Map

Redistricting Map - Ohio in Color

Jon Husted's Week in the News

Jon Husted has had kind of an interesting week. He's launched a new website for his Secretary of state office regarding redistricting efforts which will eventually allow regular citizens like you and me to take a shot at drawing the lines ourselves.

The Wall Street Journal also called him pro-fraud. Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark. And the "best" part is that it is all true...

I certainly hope Husted has realized by now that his chances of being governor of this state depends on him switching parties.

St. Rep. Combs Encourages Public Input on Redistricting Process

Release:

COLUMBUS – Every decade the state of Ohio is faced with decisions that will undoubtedly influence all citizens’ lives. That time has come once again, State Government and Elections sub-committee on Redistricting held the first of many public discussions concerning Ohio’s redistricting process. Three public hearings were held in Columbus, Zanesville, and Cleveland. The location of these discussions were decided  to allow community members to voice their specific areas of concern before a joint panel consisting of Ohio House and Senate members selected to establish the redistricting format of our state.

I am honored to serve as Vice Chairman of the House State Government and Elections Sub-Committee on Redistricting which has combined on the road with the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. 

As the 2010 nationwide census results dictate, Ohio must eliminate two congressional seats of the 18 currently held in Congress, a result of the low rate of growth in population relative to other states. Large shifts in populations across the country means that many states must add or remove congressional districts from their state maps. Of all the states that will lose at least one congressional seat, only New York and Ohio will lose two. Consequently, Texas and Florida are the only two states whose populations grew enough in the last ten years to add two new congressional districts to their maps for the upcoming 2012 elections.

The redistricting process is crucial to our state’s future; establishing not only who you vote for but also what issues will be of most priority to those elected in the 2012 elections and beyond. The redistricting process is designed to represent the interest of all Ohioans, not the parties and groups that hold power. The members facing these decisions must base their decisions on fair, objective, and measurable criteria. By utilizing public settings when conducting these meetings citizens are more likely to use open language resulting in a transparent process. The public’s involvement during the redistricting process is crucial and absolutely encouraged.

 During the first public discussion held at the Ohio Statehouse an abundance of testimony was offered and vetted appropriately. A Professor of Elections Law at The Ohio State University, three representatives from the League of Women Voters, and a representative from Ohio’s Legislative Service Commission whom discussed the details of congressional redistricting. A professor of political science from the Ohio State University discussed the criteria needed in the process to ensure the quality of democracy. A consultant of the Ohio Legislative Black caucus discussed their priorities for minorities and a citizen from the East side of Columbus came to voice her concerns regarding appropriate minority representation around Columbus.

Traditionally, a small group of elected officials decide how they would like to ‘redistrict Ohio’ with input from the minority party and the public, however this General Assembly approached the process differently by combining House and Senate redistricting committees, in effort we believe will allow all citizens a chance to convey their viewpoints on how Ohio’s Districts should be adjusted in 2012 until the next national census. Representative Courtney Combs said, “we have gotten a lot of great input from the public in all the cities we’ve visited and look forward to more people joining us at the meetings in coming weeks.” The joint committee will hold their next two public hearings on Tuesday, August 2^nd at the following times and locations

9:00am to 12:00pm Lima,                                                                             

The Ohio State University at Lima & Rhodes State College           

Life & Physical Sciences Building                                                             

4240 Campus Drive                                                                                        

Lima, Ohio 45804                                                                                           

3:30pm to 6:00pm Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati

Main Street Cinema

Tangeman University Center, Rm 220

Cincinnati, Ohio 45221

Gov. Kasich Announces Apportionment Board Meeting

Release:

COLUMBUS – Gov. John R. Kasich will convene the 2011 Board of Apportioning Persons on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. in the Senate Finance Hearing Room in the Ohio Statehouse.

Kasich, Secretary of State Jon Husted, Auditor of State Dave Yost and two yet-to-be-named legislative members (one Republican and one Democrat) will comprise the board. The purpose of the meeting is to elect a chairman, vice chairman and secretary of the board. They will adopt rules and procedures for the submission and comment of apportionment plans and for the notice and format of the regional hearings that will be held throughout the state. The board must complete and publish its work by October 1, 2011.

The board meets every 10 years following the results of the federal decennial census. The five-member board is responsible for redrawing boundaries for each of the 99 Ohio House and 33 Ohio Senate districts to reflect population changes.

The Apportionment Board, established by Article 11 of the Ohio Constitution, consists of the governor, secretary of state, auditor of state and two additional members, one appointed by the majority party and one appointed by the minority party of the Ohio General Assembly.