What is Measure 20-362
-This measure makes the Lane County redistricting committee truly independent and non political. It would shift the authority to select citizen redistricting commission members from the elected Board of Commissioners to a blind drawing of eligible applicants. The new commission, rather than the Board, would have the final say in adopting district maps. This measure also introduces a one-time mid-decade redistricting process under the new criteria.
-The previous 2021 redistricting was called “independent”non-political but it was not. Commissioners chose who would serve on the committee and it was an extremely political group of individuals who drew the maps. Portions of Eugene were placed in each of the districts, and many oddities were drawn into districts with political interests and advantages in mind.
-Many states are moving to a truly “independent” non-political committee for redistricting similar to the committee proposed in this charter amendment
-Most opposition to this independent redistricting charter amendment is from elected officials who want to maintain their power and advantage
-The greatest difference between our current redistricting process and the one proposed with this Charter amendment is how the redistricting committee is selected. Currently, politicians choose the representatives on the committee. The new process in the Charter amendment creates a process for random selection for the committee.
-The measure also calls for a one-time 2025 redistricting. This is to address the glaring gerrymandering that occurred in 2021 and to move forward under the new independent redistricting Charter amendment. If you have something that is broken, and a tool to fix it, you pick up the tool and use it.
-The timing of this Charter amendment came as there was a formal Charter review being completed. The Charter review committee recommended that the redistricting process continue to involve the commissioners and remain political. This Charter amendment was brought forward as another option during this review process. After reviewing this Charter amendment recommendation, the Charter review committee was generally favorable.