Letter to the Editor: Fair Maps and Gerrymandering

Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh said, “… extreme gerrymandering is a real problem for our democracy.” The Supreme Court held, though, that the solution to gerrymandering lies with the legislatures and not the courts. Wisconsin is a state where the politicians choose voters, rather than voters electing officials. Whether one tends to vote Republican or Democrat, gerrymandered is not good.

Voters lose the power of the vote. This was amply demonstrated during the arguments before the Supreme Court. It was pointed out that election results are a given before citizens cast their votes. Districts are predetermined to elect a Democrat or Republican. The way the districts are drawn, most votes are simply wasted efforts. The idea that we have a true democracy is lost.

A bipartisan group of Wisconsin legislators is pushing a bill to get politicians out of the business of drawing the state’s electoral maps. Three Assembly Republicans have agreed to be co-sponsors of a bill with Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa): Reps. Todd Novak (Dodgeville), Travis Tranel (Cuba City) and Joel Kitchens (Sturgeon Bay). A bill in the state Senate is sponsored by Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). There are no senate Republicans co-sponsoring the bill.

The proposed bills assign redistricting to a citizens’ group made of five members appointed by party leaders. The proposed redistricting by the citizens’ group would need legislative approval. This is similar to the Iowa system, which has been in place for many years and has met with the approval of both Democrats and Republicans.

On Nov. 13, 6:30 pm, at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor, Matt Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, will speak on gerrymandering, its effect on a true democracy and ways to end gerrymandering. Attend to hear this well-informed and persuasive speaker discuss how Wisconsin citizens can have their vote count.

Let’s turn Wisconsin back into the democracy our founders envisioned. Contact Joel Kitchens and demand that Wisconsin adopt a system like Iowa, where the voters choose the elected officials.

Jim Black

Sister Bay, Wisconsin