Wish List: An Independent Redistricting Commission

Every 10 years, Texas goes through the trauma of political redistricting. On a good year, that means lawmakers come to a pleasant agreement about how every incumbent can keep their jobs without a general election fight. In a bad year – and they seem to be more regular – the party in power tries to gerrymander the whole state to its advantage. Hell, pretty much the only thing we reliably agree with our Repub­lican state Sen. Jeff Wentworth about is that the redistricting process is too precious and too open to abuse by greedy and vindictive legislators. His solution and the one we back? A truly independent redistricting body, like the California Citizens Redis­trict­ing Commission, to draw new, fair lines that comply with all laws and give everyone a fair shot at representation and election. Create it with enough legal safeguards, as they did in Arizona, and even the most heavy-handed and bullying of governors cannot derail this underpinning of the democratic system.

This article appears in December 2 • 2011.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.