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As volunteer leaders in Lebanon County for Fair Districts PA, we thank James Mentzer for asking the important question, “Is an independent redistricting commission a good idea for Pennsylvania?”
The League of Women Voters has been asking that question for 40 years, and Fair Districts PA has been asking it for the past 10. So far, more than 136,000 Pennsylvanians have answered yes, including more than 1,500 people in Lebanon County. That public support is reinforced by four separate polls showing two-thirds or more of Pennsylvanians favoring an independent redistricting commission, as well as hundreds of news articles, op-eds and editorials. More than 300 Pennsylvania municipalities have also adopted resolutions supporting redistricting reform, including Lebanon City and Mt. Gretna Borough.
We, too, have had productive conversations with Sen. Chris Gebhard, Rep. Russ Diamond, and Rep. John Schlegel, as well as with Rep. Tom Jones, who was not quoted in Mr. Mentzer’s article. We appreciate their willingness to discuss redistricting, and we believe their concerns have been raised in good faith. But we have heard their arguments before, and they deserve some clarification.
“Would the commission really be independent?”
That is precisely the point. A commission would be independent from parties and politicians. So, no conflict-of-interest from politicians drawing their own maps.
“How can you guarantee that the commission would be unbiased?”
True, bias is unavoidable. That is why the proposed commission is designed with safeguards: four members affiliated with the majority party, four with the minority party, and three unaffiliated members. The whole process would also be public and conducted online, and the maps would have to fulfill strict legal criteria.
Most importantly, the proposed rules state that maps may not favor or disfavor an incumbent, candidate or prospective candidate, and may not give an advantage to any political party.
“What if I don’t like the map?”
The public would have opportunities to review the maps and testify at open hearings, including elected officials themselves. Public participation would be part of the process rather than an afterthought.
“Wouldn’t commissioners be unaccountable?”
Consider the alternative. Right now, four legislative leaders – representing just 5 percent of the voters – effectively control the process for Pennsylvania’s legislative maps. Is concentrating that much power in the hands of so few politicians really more accountable to voters?
“Shouldn’t commissioners be answerable to elections?”
That argument gets the problem backward. Democracies are designed to be self-correcting by means of elections. But if gerrymandered maps predetermine election outcomes even before the first vote is cast, it defeats the whole purpose of citizens voting. Politicians should not draw their own district maps. Maps drawn by independent commissions in other states are shown to better represent community interests, not those of parties, their leaders or their donors.
So why do Lebanon legislators speak against an independent commission?
Easy. This is what they’ve been told to say by caucus leaders of both parties. Yes, both parties. That’s because redistricting is not just about maps. It’s about power concentrated into the hands of those four leaders. The caucus leaders want to hang onto their power. And hang onto control of campaign funds, and caucus budgets, and which bills to advance to committee and floor votes. Not to mention, the power to draw rank-and-file legislators out of their own districts next time around. No wonder the caucus leaders are so opposed to a commission independent of their total control!
The people of Pennsylvania deserve a redistricting process designed around voters, not politicians.
Fair Districts PA will continue working for that goal in the next legislative session, in the session after that, and after the 2030 census. We will continue speaking truth to power and reminding Pennsylvanians that our state Constitution says “all power is inherent in the People” and “they have the inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they think proper.”
We also invite our Lebanon legislators to join us in the next session. We need them to use their positions to get things done for the people they represent, not for special political interests.
Lebanon and Pennsylvania can do better. Voters deserve a redistricting system that puts our communities first.
Susan O. Wood lives in Mt. Gretna. Duncan MacLean lives in South Lebanon Township. Both are volunteers with Fair Districts PA.
