Iowa lost a seat after the last census and redistricting is underway.
http://www.easterniowagovernment.com/2011/04/04/western-iowa-republicans-dont-like-new-redistricting-map/Western Iowa Republicans don’t like new redistricting map
April 4, 2011, 8:13 pm
By Rod Boshart/SourceMedia Group News
COUNCIL BLUFFS – Western Iowa Republicans made it clear Monday
they do not like a new redistricting map that would throw Pottawattamie County in with Polk County and end Congressman Steve King’s representation of southwest Iowa.Jeff Jorgensen, chairman of the Pottawattamie County Republican Party, said Council Bluffs was combined into a congressional district with Polk County before and he does not want to see Pottawattamie County to become “the forgotten step-child again” in a newly configured 3rd congressional district.
“I am adamantly opposed to this,” said Michael Patomson, one of more than 40 Iowans who turned out for the first public hearing being held this week by a special five-member Temporary Redistricting Advisory Committee. Monday’s meeting had a heavy GOP flavor because the public hearing took place next door to the local Republican central committee meeting.
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Following is an editorial which describes Iowa's redistricting process, one which is designed to prevent gerrymandering.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110405/OPINION/104050319/-1/GETPUBLISHED03/Guest-opinion-Iowa-pulls-politics-from-redistricting&community=JohnstonGuest opinion: Iowa pulls politics from redistricting
4:03 PM, Apr. 3, 2011 |
http://www.gannettonline.com/external/scripts/momslikeme/?siteid=6171Written by
state Rep. Erik Helland
STATE REP. ERIK HELLAND, R-Grimes, represents District 69 in the Iowa House. The district includes Grimes, Johnston, Polk City, Alleman, Elkhart and much of rural northern Polk County. Helland can be reached at 281-3371 or erik.helland@legis.state.ia.us.
The first redistricting maps were released last week. Iowa is unique in that our redistricting is done through a nonpartisan process, unlike most states. The Legislative Services Agency has initial responsibility. It must develop up to three plans that can be accepted or rejected.
The redistricting is based on four criteria: population equality, contiguity, unity of counties and cities, and compactness. That means we do not draw districts to protect legislators, members of Congress or majorities. Iowa has pulled as much of the politics from this process as possible, and the result is a very fair process with the Iowa voters as the biggest winners.
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