Voters speak passionately for change at redistricting hearing in Mansfield
Mark CaudillThey came out in force, and they were prepared.
About 75 people filled a room at Riedel Hall on the campus of Ohio State University-Mansfield on Friday afternoon to address a seven-member commission charged with drawing lines for the House and Senate districts.
Mansfield was the last of 10 cities the Ohio Redistricting Commission visited to gather input from the public.
Mansfield:Want to weigh in on redistricting? Commission to hold public hearing in Mansfield
Constitutional amendments approved by voters in 2015 and 2018 require the commission to hold at least three public hearings across the state.
Members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission include Gov. Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Auditor Keith Faber.
More hearings to be scheduled
In a press release, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus said the hearings are "just the beginning" of the redistricting process for state legislative districts and that more hearings will be scheduled once the commission proposes a map.
Those in attendance Friday mostly read from prepared statements. They were asked to limit their comments to four minutes, but some of them sailed past the time limit and were permitted to finish.
The voters were passionate in their calls for change.
Of the first 19 to address the commission, only one was from Richland County. Most of the speakers were from the Columbus area.
A Bexley woman told the commission the times set aside for public comment made it difficult for working people to attend.
"And for even members of the commission, apparently," she quipped.
Four of the seven commission members, including DeWine, sent designees in their place.
Commission members say they were there to listen
In an overview before public comments, Speaker of the House and co-chair of the commission Robert Cupp made it clear there would be no give and take at the session.
"We're here to listen today," Cupp said. "We're not here to debate you or one another."
Those who spoke were unanimously against gerrymandering, a practice intended to establish an unfair political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts.
"Voters should pick their leaders. Leaders should not pick their voters," the Bexley woman said.
She added she was skeptical of the process, hoping it was not an "elaborate charade."
"The commission isn't sharing any draft maps for us to review, which is concerning," she said. "I'm confused. We're supposed to be making decisions on maps that have not been created yet."
Proposed map due by Sept. 1
The commission must release a state legislative map proposal by Sept. 1. It has until Sept. 15 to pass maps that will last for 10 years.
That would require approval from the commission's two Democrats. If not, Republicans on the commission could pass maps on their own after Sept. 15. Those maps would be good for four years.
A Gahanna woman said her city is split into three House districts.
"This fractures the votes of our community," she said, adding gerrymandering "serves only those who crave power and favors incumbents and money."
A Gambier man advised the commission to make districts compact and "keep communities whole."
He said the top of his district is rural, while the southern part lies in suburban Franklin County, adding those constituents do not have the same needs.
Districts divide communities
A Mount Gilead woman told the commission about a conversation she had with an incumbent for a state office.
The woman said she was supporting the challenger at a public event. She said the incumbent asked her why she was going to so much trouble.
"Don't you know I'm going to win by 60 points?" he told the Mount Gilead woman.
Sean Burns was the first Mansfield resident to address the commission. Richland County is divided into two congressional districts.
"It breaks up neighborhoods," Burns said.
As it stands, Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville and Butler are part of Ohio's 12th congressional district, represented by Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville).
"He lives nearly two hours from Mansfield," Burns said.
The rest of Richland County is in Ohio's 7th congressional district, represented by Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville).
Richland County will continue to have one House District to call its own, whereas Ohio Senate districts will be composed of three House districts.
For the congressional map, new rules prevent lawmakers from splitting 65 of Ohio's 88 counties. The remaining 18 counties can be divided once, and five counties can be divided twice.
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Twitter: @MNJCaudill