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ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE
Fiftieth Legislature – First Regular Session
JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING
Minutes of Special Joint Meeting
House Hearing Room 4 -- 1:00 p.m.
CoChairman Pierce called the meeting to order at 1:11 p.m. and attendance was noted by the secretary.
Members Present
Senator Pierce, CoChairman Representative Weiers J., CoChairman
Senator Biggs Representative Goodale
Members Absent
Senator Meza Representative Pancrazi (excused)
Jackie Meck, General Manager/Mayor, Town of Buckeye, advised that Buckeye is currently represented by three legislative districts (LD), which were based upon the 2000 census when the population was less than 9,000, and by the 2010 census, Buckeye had grown to a population slightly more than 50,000. Current estimates suggest that Buckeye’s population will continue to grow to more than 210,000 by the 2020 census. The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) approved draft LD map divides Buckeye into four LDs, each of which includes more geographical area outside of Buckeye’s planning area than the encompassed area within the town’s current political boundaries. Not only do the proposed LDs fail to recognize Buckeye’s political boundaries, they also do not recognize Buckeye’s regional planning boundaries, essential elements of the communities of interest of which Buckeye is composed. Buckeye is a member of the Maricopa Association of Governments, but the proposed new LDs connect the town to at least three other regional planning agencies in which Buckeye has no formal voice or say in its respective distinct communities of interest. He asked the Members to address the inequity of the IRC.
CoChairman Weiers assumed the Chair.
Maureen Bayardi, representing self, stated that she attended numerous IRC meetings, and it appears that the IRC members are not listening to the public. Commissioner Herrera focuses on competitiveness without any thought to communities of interest, and areas are being split up all over. She and her husband have property in Navajo County, which has been split so the property will now be in Coconino County, yet they have nothing in common with people in the Heber-Overgaard area or Flagstaff. She said she does not understand why the Mayor of Flagstaff keeps saying Flagstaff needs to be with people in the east.
Representative Terri Proud, representing self, related that under the current Chairwoman of the IRC, who has a clear conflict of interest, over 60 percent of the IRC’s work has been done behind closed doors in direct conflict with the intent of Proposition 106. The IRC continues to claim legislative privilege for its secrecy and then claims to be open and non-partisan. The IRC has made the redistricting process the most partisan, underhanded and expensive process in the state’s history. The Legislature would have done this work as part of its regular job; however, the IRC is costing citizens almost $10 million at a time when the state can least afford it. The idea that a member of the IRC implied that they would stonewall the Attorney General is disgraceful.
She noted that in Tucson, the growing community of interest of Marana has had its input cancelled for the next decade by the IRC with insertion into a district that stretches from the western half of the northern border of Arizona all the way to the southeast corner of the state in which the voters have completely different interests. The parameters of compactness and communities of interest, even individually, take precedence over competitiveness which, by law, can be used only when it does not conflict with the other factors. There is no consistency as to what the IRC’s job is and it seems the commissioners are making up the rules as they go along.
Discussion followed about the process of appointing the Chairwoman of the IRC.
Kathryn Kobor, representing self, indicated that she and Ms. Bayardi attended most of the IRC meetings. She wrote a Letter to the Editor in which she questioned where the Arizona Republican Party was when a few people attended lengthy IRC meetings in which the commissioners eked out a mapping strategy that was grindingly boring, the Hispanic Coalition made numerous presentations, mayors and council members from Pinal County explained why they did not want to be placed into several districts and the Flagstaff Mayor repeatedly asked to have her thoughts considered. Ms. Kobor said they were waiting for Republican Leadership to appear and express their preferences to the IRC, but until now, nothing has been done.
CoChairman Weiers responded that the Committee could not have done this previously. During the 30-day comment period, the Legislature has the authority to comment. As to where the Republican Party was during the meetings, he opined that it would have been wrong to interject any politics into the process.
CoChairman Weiers announced that the Committee will meet on October 26, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the same location. He noted that IRC members were invited to provide explanations.
Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.
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Linda Taylor, Committee Secretary
November 2, 2011
(Original minutes, attachments and audio on file in the Chief Clerk’s Office; video archives available at http://www.azleg.gov)
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JLC ON REDISTRICTING
October 25, 2011
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