Redistricting plans concern
officials
 By
Heather Mangold
City Editor
Indiana lawmakers are in the final stages of redrawing
district maps. This could change which state representatives will represent
West Lafayette and Lafayette citizens.
Indiana House Democrats voted out the Republican
plan for redistricting in Tippecanoe County on Wednesday. The vote discourages
West Lafayette and Lafayette's chances of separate representation.
"Concern is being expressed throughout the community
that it (the Democratic map) splits both cities coming across the river,"
said Rep. Sue Scholer, R-26th. "District 27 comes across the river into
West Lafayette and District 26 goes to the south and catches a little
of Lafayette."
In past years, Scholer has represented West Lafayette,
while Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-27th, has represented Lafayette. If new
Democratic maps become law, Klinker would represent some of West Lafayette
and Scholer would represent parts of Lafayette, assuming both are re-elected
in 2002.
Local officials said they are not happy with the
Democrats' plan for redistricting in Tippecanoe County.
Lafayette Mayor Dave Heath said, "I don't understand
them. I thought they were pretty well divided the way they were." Previously,
the Wabash River divided the representatives districts.
Heath is not alone in his concern for the future
of the two cities.
"I wish they would make it more compact and maintain
those communities of interest in the cities and not have so many little
fingers and lines and so forth," said Scholer. "It makes it confusing
to understand who represents them."
The Democratic plan for the redistricting of Tippecanoe
County was passed on a party-line vote, meaning all Democrats voted
in favor of the plan.
Parties can go further by trying to draw maps in
ways that would enhance or strengthen themselves, said Eric Waltenburg,
a professor of political science.
"I think politics has a lot do with how lines are
drawn, and we'll just have to see how it works out," said Heath.
McLauchlan said that whichever party has the majority
in the legislature has the most influence in determining where new lines
will fall.
Lawmakers must follow some guidelines when drawing
new maps, however.
Lawmakers are required to draw district lines so
that voters will be represented equally, giving each individual vote
the same weight as the next, said William McLauchlan, a professor of
political science.
Democrats have the most influence in the House
and Republicans have the most influence in the Indiana Senate.
After the General Assembly has been presented with
several versions of new maps, a consensus must be reached.
"Once a map is approved by both houses, the new
districts become law," said McLauchlan.
While Indiana must draw new district lines, the
federal government will be affected as well.
Indiana will lose one of its 10 congressional seats.
Rep. Brian Kerns, R-7th, now represents Tippecanoe
County. However, representation for Tippecanoe County could change.
"At this point, we (Tippecaoe County) are proposed
to be in the fourth district," said McLauchlan.
The 4th district is represented by Rep. Steve Buyer,
R-5th, who would be in the same district as Kerns if new district lines
are adopted. Buyer and Kerns could run against each other for the congressional
seat that would represent Tippecanoe County.
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