House approves redistricting bill, issue moves to Senate
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Ohio House has voted 56 to 36 to approve of the state's congressional districts, which would place Highland County in the 15th district.
Ohio's 86 District Rep. Cliff Rosenberger voted for the passage of the bill. The proposed district, most of which is now represented by Republican Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington, would include Highland, northern Ross County, and all or portions of Vinton, Hocking, Athens, Morgan, Perry, Muskingum, Madison, Clark, Union and Franklin counties.
The bill will now go to the Senate, and a vote is expected some time next week.
The vote in the House was divided along party lines.
The proposed district plan places Highland County in the southwest corner of a horseshoe-shaped district. Other than a portion of Ross County to the east, all of Highland County's neighboring counties are in other districts in this proposal. Fayette County would be a part of the 10th District, while Clinton, Brown, Adams , Pike, and a portion of Ross counties would be part of the 2nd District.
Ohio lost two Congressional districts following the 2010 census, due to slow population growth.
Ohio's 86 District Rep. Cliff Rosenberger voted for the passage of the bill. The proposed district, most of which is now represented by Republican Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington, would include Highland, northern Ross County, and all or portions of Vinton, Hocking, Athens, Morgan, Perry, Muskingum, Madison, Clark, Union and Franklin counties.
The bill will now go to the Senate, and a vote is expected some time next week.
The vote in the House was divided along party lines.
The proposed district plan places Highland County in the southwest corner of a horseshoe-shaped district. Other than a portion of Ross County to the east, all of Highland County's neighboring counties are in other districts in this proposal. Fayette County would be a part of the 10th District, while Clinton, Brown, Adams , Pike, and a portion of Ross counties would be part of the 2nd District.
Ohio lost two Congressional districts following the 2010 census, due to slow population growth.
"It's an impossible situation for Ohio, and it's unfortunately, ia bad situation. You never want to lose congressional districts. In my opinion, we made a fair new map," Rosenberger said. "We have two Republicans running against each other, two Democrats and one Republican, and a Democrat and an Republican running against each other. I believe that makes a very fair map. And, also, we did this to create a new minority district in Franklin County."
Rosenberger said that he feels Highland County's placement in the 15th District is not unlike its spot in the current Third District.
"We're required to follow the U.S. Constitution, the constitution of the state of Ohio, and the Federal Voting Act," Rosenberger said. "It's important those are followed to create districts that represent the state of Ohio. In the end, I think we voted on a fair and decent map. The population of each district must be exactly the same. Ohio's Third Congressional District also had an urban center in Montgomery County, so it's kind of the same scenario here. Highland County is just with a different urban center (in Franklin County). The populations must be the same, and Highland had to be drawn like that."
Ohio 17th District Sen. David Daniels said that he is still studying the proposed district map before the Senate's vote next week.
"It's not an easy process like most people would like to think that it is," Daniels said. "There's an idea that you can just draw lines where you want, and that's not the case. It's a difficult process."
The drawing of the districts, Daniels said, depends on population, and balancing the district in accordance with constitutional guidelines. He noted that each change made in one district can have an impact on another district.
"There are a number of things that have to be looked at," Daniels said. "As somebody who has an opportunity to vote on this, there are a couple of things that need looked at. We need to make sure it meets constitutional muster. We have to make sure it conforms to the Voting Rights Act, that the map conforms to the population numbers that we've got. Of course, it makes a lot of changes through southern Ohio, and I've had a lot of opportunities to talk to local elected officials about what the map means and how this is going to change what have been our lines for the last 10 years."
Daniels said that he has some colleges in the Senate who have districts where neighbors live in different districts because that is where the lines had to be drawn.
"The law has to be followed, and we're going to make sure that if there are ways to make some changes, we certainly will to take a look, as we remember any changes that are made may adversely effect someone else. It's a process that we're looking at right now to make sure it's done fairly and correctly, and with all the requirements that we musts meet by law," Daniels said.
If the map is approved, Highland County will be represented by Stivers, and Daniels said that Stivers will be fair to local constituents.
"I know Congressman Stivers, and he's a great guy. I know we've been used to having Mike Turner (R-Centerville) in Highland County. We've lost two congressman, which means there are going to be fewer districts, and more people in them," Daniels said.
Stivers told The Highland County Press that as the 15th District is currently drawn, it is diverse, with urban and rural areas, and that he feels he can be a good representative for southern Ohio, as well as central Ohio.
"(The proposed district) is a diverse district, but my current district is diverse too," Stivers said. "I currently have an inner city, suburbs and some rural agricultural counties. I grew up in farm country, but live in the suburbs, so I think I can represent the diverse interests of the people in this district."
Although he lives in the Columbus area, Stivers has family ties to Highland County. He said his grandmother was a graduate of Lynchburg High School and his grandfather owned the Kahlua Cream in Greenfield for over 10 years.
The Ohio House has voted 56 to 36 to approve the of the state's congressional districts, which would place Highland County in the 15th district.
Ohio's 86 District Rep. Cliff Rosenberger voted for the passage of the bill. The proposed district, most of which is now represented by Republican Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington, would include Highland, northern Ross County, and all or portions of Vinton, Hocking, Athens, Morgan, Perry, Muskingum, Madison, Clark, Union and Franklin counties.
The bill will now go to the Senate, and a vote is expected sometime next week.
The proposed district plan places Highland County in the southwest corner of a horseshoe-shaped district. Other than a portion of Ross County to the east, all of Highland County's neighboring counties are in other districts in this proposal. Fayette County would be a part of the 10th District, while Clinton, Brown, Adams, Pike and a portion of Ross counties would be part of the Second District.
Ohio lost two Congressional districts following the 2010 census, due to slow population growth.
"It's an impossible situation for Ohio, and it's unfortunately, a bad situation. You never want to lose congressional districts. In my opinion, we made a fair new map," Rosenberger said. "We have two Republicans running against each other, two Democrats against each other, and a Democrat and a Republican running against each other. I believe that makes a very fair map. And, also, we did this to create a new minority district in Franklin County."
Rosenberger said that he feels Highland County's placement in the 15th District is not unlike its spot in the current Third District.
"We're required to follow the U.S. Constitution, the constitution of the state of Ohio and the Federal Voting Act, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act," Rosenberger said. "It's important those are followed to create districts that represent the state of Ohio. In the end, I think we voted on a fair and decent map. The population of each district must be exactly the same. Ohio's Third Congressional District also had an urban center in Montgomery County, so it's kind of the same scenario here. Highland County is just with a different urban center (in Franklin County). The populations must be the same, and Highland had to be drawn like that."
Ohio 17th District Sen. David Daniels said that he is still studying the proposed district map before the Senate's vote next week.
"It's not an easy process like most people would like to think that it is," Daniels said. "There's an idea that you can just draw lines where you want, and that's not the case. It's a difficult process."
The drawing of the districts, Daniels said, depends on population, and balancing the district in accordance with constitutional guidelines. He noted that each change made in one district can have an impact on another district.
"There are a number of things that have to be looked at," Daniels said. "As somebody who has an opportunity to vote on this, there are a couple of things that need looked at. We need to make sure it meets constitutional muster. We have to make sure it conforms to the Voting Rights Act, that the map conforms to the population numbers that we've got. Of course, it makes a lot of changes through southern Ohio, and I've had a lot of opportunities to talk to local elected officials about what the map means and how this is going to change what have been our lines for the last 10 years."
Daniels said that he has some colleagues in the Senate who have districts where neighbors live in different districts because that is where the lines had to be drawn.
"The law has to be followed, and we're going to make sure that if there are ways to make some changes, we certainly will to take a look, as we remember any changes that are made may adversely affect someone else. It's a process that we're looking at right now to make sure it's done fairly and correctly, and with all the requirements that we must meet by law," Daniels said.
If the map is approved, Highland County could be represented by Stivers, and Daniels said that Stivers will be fair to local constituents.
"I know Congressman Stivers, and he's a great guy. I know we've been used to having Mike Turner (R-Centerville) in Highland County. We've lost two congressman, which means there are going to be fewer districts and more people in them," Daniels said.
Stivers told The Highland County Press that as the 15th District is currently drawn, it is diverse, with urban and rural areas, and that he feels he can be a good representative for southern Ohio as well as central Ohio.
"(The proposed district) is a diverse district, but my current district is diverse too," Stivers said. "I currently have an inner city, suburbs and some rural agricultural counties. I grew up in farm country, but live in the suburbs, so I think I can represent the diverse interests of the people in this district."
Although he lives in the Columbus area, Stivers has family ties to Highland County. He said his grandmother was a graduate of Lynchburg High School and his grandfather owned the Kahlua Cream in Greenfield for over 10 years.
If the redistricting plan is approved by the Ohio General Assembly, new congressional boundaries would go into effect in 2013. Voters would choose U.S. House representatives under the new plan in November 2012.
[[In-content Ad]]If the redistricting plan is approved by the Ohio General Assembly, new congressional boundaries would go into effect in 2013. Voters would choose U.S. House representatives under the new plan in November 2012.