Comments on: Redistricting: Moran reintroduces bi-partisan solution

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:06:40 +0000

I have proposed using the Census data, which has population down to the block level available FREE, to write a computer program that will generate districts that best equalize populations while minimizing the perimeters of the districts, which avoids such snake-like districts as Moran’s father’s.

Even better is an idea put forward by Lani Guinier (who withdrew her nomination for Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Div. of the Justice Department) that we abolish the districts entirely, and vote at large. The twist is that we get as many votes as we have Representatives (11 in Virginia), and that we can cast our votes in any way we like. Thus, she reasoned, Blacks might cast all of their votes for a single Black candidate, to ensure he is elected. Libertarians and Communists might do the same, if they have enough voters. That way we would get people who represent us as people, not as residents. For instance, a libertarian in Norfolk has interests more in common with a libertaian in Northern Virginia than with a socialist in Norfolk.

And the bonus is NO REDISTRICTING!!

By: James Martin

James Martin — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:16:22 +0000

And Jim Shuler and Kris Amundson should definitely be recognized for their leadership! (same with Brian Moran)

By: James Martin

James Martin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:35:05 +0000

*almost made it out of committee i mean

By: James Martin

James Martin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:34:33 +0000

Not sure… but one of Creigh’s priorities over the last 4 years has been shoving this through the Senate.. and in 2005 it almost passed!

Anyway, while its nice Brian has taken the issue up, Creigh has been the champion of non-partisan redistricting since 2001.

By: friendlyvirginian

friendlyvirginian — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:28:03 +0000

Brian Moran in 2006
Redistricting Study – http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+sum+HJ139

Brian Moran in 2005
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+sum+HJ202

Brian Moran in 2003
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?021+sum+HJ204

I’m proud that Brian came up with a new way to go about this issue – reintroducing something that Republicans have taken a position on in the past….

Reforming redistricting isn’ a Brian Moran initiative, or Creigh Deeds. Jim Shuler has sponsored it before So has Kris Amundson. So have a number of other members. Brian is the first one to put it this way – the first one to get creative about it!

By: vjp

vjp — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:19:40 +0000

Are any of those the original 1992 legislation? I can’t tell from the links.

By: James Martin

James Martin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:09:23 +0000

For the record, while its Great that Moran is getting behind the idea, this is a Creigh Deeds initiative.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?061+sum+SJ45
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+sum+SJ307
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+sum+SJ3
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?031+sum+SJ281