Legislature supports recommendation to reform redistricting process, create independent commission

The Erie County Legislature voted Thursday in support of creating an independent redistricting commission that significantly reforms the entire process. The proposed revision would create an 11-member Independent Commission on Reapportionment. Erie County would be one of two counties in New York State with this approach; the proposal was formatted after a similar proposal in Ulster County.

 

“The current process is led by the Legislature and we draw our own district lines. An independent commission would take the Legislators out of the process and allow the independent commission to handle redistricting and create the Legislature map. The last redistricting process ended in court and a judge ultimately drew the lines. My hope is that a citizens commission will take politics out of the process,” said Legislator Edward A. Rath, III.

 

“With final approval of this revision, Erie County would become one of only a few counties in the state to utilize an independent commission for redistricting, a process that has been attacked for being political in the past. This would put the process in the hands of the commission to create the districts we represent,” said Majority Leader Joseph Lorigo.

 

The recommendation, approved 7-4 by the Legislature, will become part of a local law that will be on the November 2016 ballot for voter approval.

 

“Ultimately the creation of an Independent Redistricting Commission is up to the residents. I am proud to support the initiative, I think it will be beneficial to the county the next time we go through redistricting. I want to thank the Charter Review Commission for putting forward this innovative suggestion and bringing much needed reform to the entire process,” said Chairman John Mills.

 

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