Redistricting map has big impact in area

In Idaho, a bipartisan redistricting commission is tasked with creating 35 new legislative districts based on the 2010 Census figures.

In 1994, Idaho voters passed a constitutional amendment removing the responsibility of redistricting from lawmakers, putting it in the hands of a citizen commission intended to be an independent alternative to previously bitter legislative fights over redrawing lines to protect incumbents and gain partisan advantages.

Even with a bipartisan commission, redistricting in Idaho is challenging. An oddly-shaped state with predominately rural communities divided by vast farmland, forests, and wilderness areas, Idaho’s districts often throw together communities over large geographic areas.

Maps are redrawn based on population and aim to reflect shifts in the state’s population while adhering to the U.S. Constitution’s principle of one person, one vote, with the state’s constitution providing a second level of requirements that counties only be split insofar as it is necessary to adhere to the requirements of the U.S Constitution.

The ideal district for Idaho, based on the 2010 Census, is 44,788.

The first redistricting commission was not able to approve a plan within the legally allotted time of three months, giving way to a second commission which worked well together and was able to pass a plan last October, labeled L-83.

Twin Falls County and others challenged this map on the basis that it split too many counties unnecessarily. On Jan. 18, the Idaho Supreme Court, in a 4-1 ruling, struck down L-83 as unconstitutional for dividing 12 of Idaho’s 44 counties. The court also set guidelines for the second redistricting map, stating the map could split only Bannock, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon and Twin Falls counties and pair them with other counties.

A week later, the same redistricting commissioners were back to work at the Capitol.

Time was running out, as registration begins for May 15 primaries at the end of February. The commission worked fast, unanimously approving a new redistricting plan, L-93, following state Supreme Court’s guidance. Their ability to work well together to draw a map that is fair is a model for future Idaho redistricting commissions.

Under this newly approved plan, Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover; and Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest River; would remain in District 1 and have no incumbent challengers. I would end up in a new District 7, with Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll.

The new District 7 has 42,930 citizens and covers a large geographic area. The district divides Bonner County, all land east of Highway 95 and south of Lake Pend Oreille will be in the new district. It will also encompass all of Shoshone, Clearwater, and Idaho counties, meeting up with Highway 95 again at Cottonwood.

Some of my Bonner County constituents would end up in a newly-created District 1, while my Kootenai County constituents are in a new District 4 and my Benewah constituents in the new District 5.

The new District 7 is not the only large district — the new District 8 includes all of Gem, Boise, Valley, Custer, and Lehmi counties.

Now that the Idaho Secretary of State has received this new map from the commission, there is the potential that some party may again sue the state. Whether this is the case or not, we must move forward with the impression that this new map will remain the legislative districts for the next 10 years.