JIM PROVANCE
Sep 25, 2023
COLUMBUS — Republican-drawn maps for state legislative districts faced criticism from Democrats, Republicans, and independents at a Geauga County public hearing on Monday.
COLUMBUS — Republican-drawn maps for state legislative districts faced criticism from Democrats, Republicans, and independents at a Geauga County public hearing on Monday.
Those maps purport, on paper, to favor a 23-10 Republican majority in the state Senate, compared to a 26-7 super-majority now, and a 54-45 GOP House, compared to 67-32 now.
But Democrats argued that they pack Democrats into as few urban districts as possible to create more GOP-friendly districts in rural Ohio.
No one spoke in favor of the Republican proposal during the two-hour day hearing.
Justin Tjaden, a registered independent from Geneva on the Lake, took aim at Republicans who hold five of the seven seats on the commission.
“The perception seems to be that as long as we have power, we will protect those who help us keep it,” he said. “The perception is that we will protect [Rep.] Josh Williams in District 44, because he won a contested district, voted party line...”
Mr. Williams and term-limited Rep. Derek Merrin (R., Monclova Township) reside in what would be the new 44th District, the only one of the four Lucas County-based House districts that, on paper, would be friendly to the GOP.
The district has been a target of criticism because it begins in Toledo’s western suburbs, snakes along the Maumee River to the east, and picks up portions of northern Wood and western Ottawa counties. Based on past election performance, it would have a 54 percent GOP voting index.
“The perception is Sen. Theresa Gavarone won a competitive district, voted party line, so we're going to give her some help,” Mr. Tjaden said. “But the perception is you're not helping all Republicans, are you?”
The reworked 2nd Senate District for Ms. Gavarone (R., Bowling Green) would include the new 44th's share of Lucas County, all of Wood, Ottawa, and Erie counties, and two small pieces of Huron County. It would have a 55 percent GOP index.
Mr. Tjaden pointed to the reworked Lake County district to suggest Rep. Jamie Callender (R., Concord) has been targeted by his fellow Republicans because he voted against some GOP priorities and introduced a bill to legalize marijuana. He is expected to draw a primary challenge.
“The perception is we are the new Ohio Republican Party,” Mr. Tjaden said. “We are the government, and we're here to help whether you want it or not.”
Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, attended just his second redistricting commission meeting, returning after recovering from a second bout of coronavirus.
The commission, facing criticism by some in the northeast Ohio crowd for setting Monday's hearing on the holy day of Yom Kippur, hastily added an evening hearing at the same Punderson Manor location to accommodate Jewish and working Ohioans.
State Auditor Keith Faber, the commission's Republican co-chairman, defended the maps against Democratic claims of packing.
“You would agree with me, in Ohio's political geography, people tend to live around people who vote and think like them,” he told a Democratic state representative.
“And what that means is largely in Ohio's urban core areas we have a concentration of Democrats and in rural areas a concentration of Republicans,” Mr. Faber said. “In order to get where you want for [politically] proportional districts, the only way to do that is something commonly called hub-and-spoke districts.”
A final hearing is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Ohio Statehouse. The panel remains under a bipartisan Ohio Supreme Court order to adopt a set of maps for use in 2024.
Whether the maps would be used beyond that would depend on getting the support of the two Democratic commissioners.
House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D., Upper Arlington) and Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D., Lakewood) have so far been highly critical of the plan in general and the Toledo area 44th in particular.
A final vote could come as early as this week.
The commission also comprises three other Republicans — Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Sen. Rob McColley (R., Napoleon), and Rep. Jeff LaRe (R., Canal Winchester).
Meanwhile, the committee pushing for a November, 2024 vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would take the redistricting pen out of the hands of elected officials and other politicians last week submitted its petition summary language for the third time for the approval of Attorney General Dave Yost.
The attorney rejected the first two passes as not accurately telling would-be petitions signers what the amendment would do. That has kept backers from hitting the streets to gather signatures. Mr. Yost’s decision on the latest attempt is due by Monday.
First Published September 25, 2023, 2:05pm