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Advocate editorial board opinion: Take politics out of redrawing voting lines

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  • By the Advocate Editorial Board
  • Originally published December 1, 2011 at 5:39 p.m., updated December 1, 2011 at 5:39 p.m.

Politics aside, we think it is unfortunate that two respected members of the Legislature have been forced to run against each other in the Republican March 6 Primary Election.

Who or what's to blame? Politics.

We know the cause of why state representatives Geanie Morrison (Victoria) and Todd Hunter (Corpus Christi) are being pitted against each other is the redistricting morass.

Face it, redistricting, which occurs every 10 years, is highly political and not necessarily fair. Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature draw the lines to gain an edge on each other in elections. Both are to blame for the up-in-the-air status of who files for, and votes in, what district this year.

The Republicans in the last Legislature drew odd-shaped districts and were warned it would not be accepted. It was not accepted. Now, three federal judges in San Antonio have redrawn the lines, and many think it is just as bad, only now, it favors Democrats.

We don't think the lines are based on real demographic information. For example, we see one district start on the Rio Grande River and stretch all the way to Central Texas. Drawn correctly, we think we should see many rectangular or squared districts.

For example, if the Legislature really wanted to have the districts drawn to reflect real balance in demographics, it would use technology and pour all that data into a program that would draw the lines - much like a school district keeps its schools' populations balanced.

We think the Legislature should give up on drawing the lines and give that duty to a software program. Then we wouldn't have this back-and-forth political battle over who votes where.

But that would take the politics out of it, wouldn't it?

This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.




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Comments

  • bighorn bighorn Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    I vote for ALWAYS pitting two incumbants against each other, thereby insuring some of the trash gets thrown out on a regular basis.

    December 2, 2011 at 10:09 p.m.
  • rollinstone rollinstone Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    I vote for the computer program, it is the only fair way. The way it's done now it Balkanizes the legislature and it leads to a lot of unnecessary partisan uncompromising politics along with entrenched partisan politicians

    I read they have a computer program that minimizes the perimeter of a district - no more weird looking districts like these district for example.....

    http://pjmedia.com/zombie/2010/11/11/...

    If the computer program makes a gerrymandered district people would know right away that it was tampered with - I think it would be a great improvement.

    December 2, 2011 at 7:01 p.m.
  • EdithAnn EdithAnn Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    And the Todd Hunter ads have started. Just saw the first one.

    December 2, 2011 at 6:16 p.m.
  • Writein Writein Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Mr. Zuck.

    I love you man. The most fair and honest way to resolve this is to adopted the Cailfornian way of redistricting. A citizens board with an equal number of Dems, GOP, and Inds.

    December 2, 2011 at 4:47 p.m.
  • EdithAnn EdithAnn Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    "When federal judge's redo the lines pitting two long term politicians against each other the Republicans call it "politics".

    I believe Mrs. Morrison is calling it "unfair"!

    As to the 'blessing', I say 'Amen'!

    December 2, 2011 at 4:37 p.m.
  • Mike Mike Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Good post,Dale I never though of it that way...:-)

    Computer software is Ok but who controls the programmers?The exception will come up now and then,10 years is a long time.

    December 2, 2011 at 3:52 p.m.
  • DaleZuck DaleZuck Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Which word should it really be? When the Democrats redraw the district lines in their favor, it is called gerrymandering. When the Republicans redraw the district lines in their favor it is called "the will of the people". When federal judge's redo the lines pitting two long term politicians against each other the Republicans call it "politics".

    The re-done lines now place Mr Hunter against Mrs Morrison. May I offer another word.... "Blessing"?

    December 2, 2011 at 3:32 p.m.