By Catherine Turcer, policy analyst for Common Cause Ohio

On February 11 at the Associated Press Forum in Columbus, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted highlighted his decade long quest for redistricting reform and the importance of competitive elections, “I don’t want to win because the rules were rigged.  We want to win because we have better candidates with better ideas that are focused on solving the problems of all Ohioans.”
 
Secretary Husted noted that Issue 1 was overwhelmingly supported by voters last November and urged voters to embrace congressional redistricting reform the way that they did state legislative reform. He also noted, “I think it’s always easier to take it up sooner rather than later.”
 
Attorney General Mike DeWine, Treasurer Josh Mandel and State Auditor Dave Yost concurred.
 
Yost added, “If there were redistricting reform on the ballot, I would vote for it.”
 
But our legislative leaders are a slightly different story.
 
While Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni heartily endorsed congressional redistricting reform, Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger has some reservations, “Some folks have reported that I am looking to be too slow to act on this.” 
 
He described state legislative and congressional redistricting as “apples and oranges.” But noted that he is ready to start a conversation about the process of map-making and described himself as “all ears.” 
 
Ohio Senate President Keith Faber shared his opposition to a bipartisan redistricting commission like the one established by the passage of Issue 1 drawing congressional district lines because it’s “a divestiture of state legislative authority.” 
 
The state legislature is currently responsible for making congressional district maps.  President Faber may say that he opposes taking map-making away from the legislature but the legislature is dominated by one political party.  It’s time for bipartisan map-making and fair rules. President Faber’s concern about “a divestiture of state legislative authority” seems even odder when one considers that in 2021, the Ohio Redistricting Commission that is tasked with state legislative map-making, includes four legislative members or appointees (2 Democrats and 2 Republicans).  The Ohio Senate President will have the opportunity to appoint one member of the Commission.  
 
Faber did note a willingness to look at the process of drawing congressional districts or the factors to consider in map-making.  He identified contiguity and compactness as criteria that he favors and would be willing to consider.  
 
Senate President Faber suggested that while uninterested in changing who draws the congressional districts, he is open to considering an advisory commission. 
 
Together we can encourage the state legislature to get to work.  Urge Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger to fix gerrymandering of Congressional districts and not stand in the way of more robust, fair elections.
 
Here is what you can do right now to make your voice heard:

• Send an email to Speaker Rosenberger and tell him that it’s time to pass Congressional redistricting reform legislation.

• Call Speaker Rosenberger and tell him we deserve fair congressional districts as well as state legislative districts.  His phone number is (614) 466-3506.

By Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio

On Thursday February 4, 2016, the Legislative Branch and Executive Branch Committee of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission (OCMC) appeared poised to vote on a congressional redistricting reform proposal similar to the one past in November that focuses on the state legislature.
 
The Legislative and Executive Branch Committee has been discussing redistricting reform since July 2013.

Instead of holding the scheduled vote Chair Fred Mills proposed establishing a four-member subcommittee to negotiate some last minute sticking points, the amendments proposed by committee member state Senator Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus).  She is also the co-chair of the full commission.

Tavares’ proposed amendments include:

• Expanding the size of protected large counties and townships to be proportional to that of Issue 1 by reducing the minimum protection level from 50 to 30.
• Deleting the word "contiguous" to protect all portions of municipal
  corporations and townships from unnecessary splits.
• Requiring that counties equal to the size of a district are maintained
  as a district.
• Requiring that districts be formed by combining whole counties for all
  counties and not just counties of a certain size.
• Allowing only one county to be split per congressional district.

On Wednesday, OCMC member and former member of both houses of the Ohio General Assembly Jeff Jacobson sent an email urging the committee to postpone the vote. Jacobson was one of the negotiators that helped to craft the legislation that became November 2015’s Issue 1.

Committee Chair Mills said that he “came to the position late yesterday/early today that I didn't think we were prepared to discuss each amendment and make an up and down decision today.”

Former Speaker Jo Ann Davidson agreed with the Chair.  She highlighted her support of congressional redistricting reform and urged the committee members to act in a bipartisan fashion and “look to the success of Issue 1.”

State Senator Bill Coley (R-Liberty Township) questioned whether it is possible to draw congressional districts with new compactness requirements and defended the current congressional map as constitutional and meeting federal requirements, “The aspirations supporters have of creating a fair and balanced map were the same aspirations mapmakers tried to adhere to in 2011. 

"Have you drawn a map using your new proposal and not violating the one man, one vote principle and not violating the principles set forth in the Federal Voting Rights Act? I contend that you probably can't do it."

Representative Michael Curtin (D-Marble Cliff) didn’t disagree with the formation of a subcommittee.

"Most Ohioans that have taken a look at the congressional map in Ohio believe it to be a very, very bad map," Representative Curtin said. "Ohioans deserve better than that and it is simply not that difficult among well-intentioned people of both parties to draw a fair map in full compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act and the case law interpreting the Federal Voting Rights Act."

Professor Emeritus Herb Asher who said he was "nervous" about the idea of allowing unresolved issues to head to the General Assembly.
​
After more discussion the Committee voted to establish a subcommittee which will include Chair Fred Mills, Vice Chair and Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks, state Senator Tavares and state Representative Robert McColley (R-Napoleon).  Subcommittee recommendations are due within six weeks.
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The state legislature does not have to wait on this recommendation. It could act now by passing similar legislation that has already been introduced or moving the OCMC committee’s proposal as a new piece of legislation.  The legislature can put congressional redistricting reform before the voters if passed by 60% of the members of both chambers.
Urge Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger to fix gerrymandering of congressional districts and not stand in the way of more robust, fair elections.