Sample Redistricting Outreach Letter from Latah County

Hey Everyone
The redistricting commission visited a few weeks ago and I also had a chance to eat lunch with the Democratic Party commissioners.  I learned a couple things to pass on:
  • The best way to provide input is to propose a map or comment on a proposed map.    All members of the commission said this.
  • I have proposed a map of North and Central Idaho for you to support positively.  It should be available on the redistricting web site in a couple days.   Brandon Durst also proposed a similar map you could support (LegMap1).
  • The key idea to support is combining Latah and Benewah County into One legislative district!.  Change anything else,  but support keeping these two counties as one district.    If you do nothing else,  send an email to the redistricting commission with this message.   (its not possible for Latah county to remain one legislative district.  Our poulation is not large enough).
  • You need to start sending comments in soon.  They hope to be done in August.
Here is the info on where to get Redistricting Info and how to create and comment on maps:
The Risk.    Gresham Bouma had a large contingent at the session.  They were unified in proposing a district that would somehow combine Moscow and Lewiston into one district and combine rural Latah with Benewah,  Shoshone and other rural areas into another.   This might make it slightly easier to elect Democrats in the Moscow/Lewiston district but we would have many incumbent Democrats and Moderate Republics running against each other.   It would make it harder to increase the number of legislative seats held by Democrats.   Moscow and Lewiston are also not very similar communities.  Please comment positively for a Latah Benewah Legislative district instead of this alternative.
Thanks for anything you can do,  but please comment in some way before the end of July.
David Nelson
The commission that is drawing new district lines for Idaho’s Congressional delegation and the state legislature is visiting Moscow on Thursday, June 23rd to take public testimony.
  • University of Idaho Student Union Building, Gold and Silver Rooms,
  • June 23rd.  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Here is a web site that describes the process they follow.   You can even draw your own districts using the software provided here.
We face changes in Latah County.  Our county is no longer large enough to be a single legislative district.  Our population is about 37,000 and a legislative district will need to be about 44,000 people.   How our new legislative district is formed will have a big effect on our ability to elect Democrats!
Please testify to the commission on Thursday.  Shirley Ringo has a letter below where she makes many good points that you can use.    Our ability to continue to send Representatives like Shirley Ringo and Dan Schmidt depends on your voice and the work of the Idaho redistricting commission.
Thank you.
David Nelson
Latah County Chair
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Letter from Representative Shirley Ringo
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Dear Latah Democrats:As you probably know, every ten years the boundary lines are redrawn for legislative districts.  This is a critical time for us, because it determines our future representation for the next ten years.There is a commission, consisting of three democrats and three republicans, that meets to draw the new lines.   The chair of the republican group is Evan Frazier from Pocatello.  He has shown his approach to be very partisan – and proposes a map that would split Latah County.

Our new district will have to be larger than just Latah County, because of the population required.  (We have not grown sufficiently to have enough people for an entire district anymore.)  I believe the best district that would have the necessary population would put Latah and Benewah Counties together.

The date for the hearing in Moscow is June 23.  Unfortunately for me, the date conflicts with meetings of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee that I must attend in Boise.

I hope some of you will attend the hearings and testify.  It wouldn’t be appropriate to testify based upon what is best for Democrats.  (There has been talk of putting us with Clearwater County.  Clearwater County has a much different culture than ours.  In the 2010 election, they elected a very conservative tea party type for their county commission.)   Among the main points that may be raised:

  • All of Latah County should be in the new District – counties should remain whole where possible.
  • There are highways that conveniently link Latah and Benewah, so that legislators will have access to serve the constituents well.
  • Community of interest is important.  For example, there is a relationship between the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the University of Idaho.

Thank you in advance to all who may attend the hearings.  I truly regret having another commitment at that time.  The hearings are scheduled from 2 until about 4 PM, June 23.  They will be held at the U of I Student Union Building, Gold and Silver rooms.

Shirley Ringo