Bill to cut politics from redistricting gains steam

RICHMOND

Efforts to reduce the role of politics in the drawing of Virginia's legislative and congressional district boundaries picked up bipartisan endorsements Tuesday from the state Senate and from two former governors.

But several Republican leaders in the House of Delegates reiterated their opposition to the initiative, casting doubt on whether any redistricting changes can pass the General Assembly this winter.

Federal law requires Virginia and all other states to draw new political districts every 10 years based on new census figures. The Virginia legislature will take up redistricting in 2011, and the process, if not changed, could influence the partisan control of each General Assembly chamber for years.

In the past, the party in power has muscled through plans that have increased its numbers by contouring favorable districts for its members, often placing incumbents from the minority party in the same districts in which they are forced to run against each other or retire. Following the Republican-dominated redistricting in 2001, the GOP gained 12 seats in the House and one in the Senate.

The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would establish an independent commission to draw election boundaries for the General Assembly and the state's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. The panel would fashion districts based on geographical compactness rather than partisan favor.

"It is incumbent on us to try something different, to try something that is truly in the interests of the people of Virginia," said Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, one of the patrons of the legislation, SB38.

At a news conference Tuesday, the legislation was endorsed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and former Gov. Mark Warner, both Democrats, and by Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican. George Allen, a former Republican governor and U.S. senator, embraced the idea of non partisan redistricting, although he said in a written statement that he has concerns about the bill.

The proposal has support from business groups across the state, including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Kaine and others said the current system has stifled competition in elections by allowing the majority party to draw unassailable districts for its incumbents. "When you don't have competition for seats, citizens don't participate," Kaine said.

The bill would set up a seven-member redistricting commission. Three members would be chosen by Republican leaders in the General Assembly, and three would be selected by Democratic leaders. The six resulting members would then elect a seventh person to serve as chairman.

The panel would submit a non partisan election map to the House and the Senate. The chambers would be free to amend the map, allowing majority lawmakers a chance to gerrymander districts. But supporters of the measure hope that wouldn't happen.

"The whole idea would be to create pressure on the General Assembly to adopt the plan proposed by the nonpartisan commission," said Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, a co-patron of the bill.

Deeds said giving legislators the option of rejecting the commission's recommendation is necessary if the change has any chance of passing the General Assembly. The House of Delegates subcommittee already has rejected another proposal for taking the politics out of redistricting. House Republican leaders show little sign of budging.

Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, noted that in the last few elections, Democrats have gained House seats despite running in districts drawn by Republicans in 2001. Jones is chairman of a House subcommittee that could kill the legislation.

"The system works well," he said. "Virginia has continuously been ranked at the top as the best-managed state and the best place to raise kids."

Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com

Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com