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Foxes Building the Henhouse
Why North Carolina needs an independent redistricting commission
By Todd Morman
Page 3 of 3
The independent commission wasn't a quick cure-all. Both Hegarty and Jennings had higher hopes for changes in the current maps, which they call "lopsided in favor of Republicans," than the changes that actually materialized. Hegarty also says the steep learning curve was a problem for some of the laypeople on the commission, who seemed at times to be in over their heads, and notes that the new legislative district plan is being challenged in court by a minority coalition.
But amazingly, even after all the trouble he says Democrats faced, Hegarty continues to support Arizona's experiment.
"We still believe the independent redistricting commission is the way to go, yes," he says. "The process didn't live up to its original concept, but it's still better to hold it in the open, and better to have truly competitive districts that lead to better debates and better laws. It was a learning process for everybody. We're thinking about the future, long-term. We hope the process will work the way it's supposed to in the next redistricting, but it's still the best process." *
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