Redistricting continues to be a current issue in the news. For the past few years I have pursued legislation to set out a bipartisan, fairer way to draw our election boundary lines. Thankfully there are a lot of like-minded folks also pushing for change.
I have a unique perspective on this issue as I was actually gerrymandered out of my seat when I served in the House of Delegates from 1982-1989. Basically, during redistricting in the late 80’s the lines were drawn around constituencies that separated existing communities to set up new communities better serving specific populations and several Republicans lost their seats because they lost the constituency they had been representing.
In all honesty, I think it worked out okay for me personally because I was able to return home and raise my family and leave politics behind (for a while at least). I soon came to realize there is life after the General Assembly and that actually gave me a useful perspective that I rely on today; I can vote the way I need to vote for my constituency rather than for any specific party goal or political gain because in the end it just matters that you do the right thing and can live with yourself and your conscience because tomorrow you may be back home anyway.
Years later, I came back and ran for the Senate seat I currently represent. The boundaries of the 24th District have changed several times over the years though. It used to stretch down to Glasgow in Rockbridge County and over to Highland County. Now the most southern point I represent is Augusta County and my district goes as far north as Culpeper, actually bedroom communities of Northern Virginia and over to Madison and Greene County. My district remains largely rural but Virginia is changing; it’s economics, it’s transient citizenry, and it’s communities of interests. All our legislative districts are evolving and honestly, our boundary lines should evolve too but not for the benefit of those currently holding seats in the legislature but for the benefit of equal and fair representation of the people in the Commonwealth.
Back in February, I stated in my remarks during the Senate Committee meeting on Privileges and Elections that people are watching more closely than in the past and that is a good thing. This is not “my” seat; the seat I represent in the VA Senate is the “people’s” seat. I am elected to serve them, represent their ideas, and as I have been given opportunities to rise in leadership I must also use that power to make sure the election process is fair and equitable.
SJ25 which I patroned this year was probably the broadest of all the redistricting proposals offered this session. It set up specific criteria and minimized political motivation in the creation of setting boundary lines. At minimum, it is my belief the bill should have been sent to the Floor for consideration because Constitutional Amendments must pass two consecutive years in a row so we would at least have had a vehicle to amend and work on during the interim. Unfortunately, that motion was not supported despite the obvious groundswell of support from the public.
I don’t see this issue going away. The federal courts just ruled the VA House must redraw 11 House districts by October for what it deems inappropriate gerrymandering. House Leadership is appealing the ruling and we will have to see how this plays out in the courts.
What I do see though is a public, already motivated to question everything in politics these days, pushing for change that ensures real representation, not lines drawn by whatever party is in charge at the time. The R’s have done it, the D’s have done it – that doesn’t make it right. Now is the time to step up and acknowledge the need for change in how we draw our lines and I hope you will join me in asking others to support fair and equitable redistricting in the future. Your representation in your state government depends on it.
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