GOP releases political maps

SPRINGFIELD — Republicans led by Rep. Mike Fortner of West Chicago released their version of a new political map Thursday, saying their plan better catered to Illinois’ growing Hispanic population and didn’t intentionally benefit either party.

But Democrats that control state government aren’t likely to give up map-drawing powers to the GOP. Fortner said it was important for his party to present an alternative to the Democrats’ legislative map, anyway.

“One place it’s gotten is it’s gotten to the public,” Fortner said of the GOP map.

The legislative map is seen as politically critical to lawmakers because the party that draws lawmakers’ districts can make it easier for it to keep power in Springfield for the next 10 years.

Democrats’ proposal, for example, created districts that include more than one sitting Republican incumbent. That assures the two have to either run against each other in election, or one has to move or retire.

Republicans say they didn’t take incumbents into account when they drew their map. And, Fortner said, the GOP proposal takes recommendations from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund in order to make the map more favorable for Hispanics.

“We know we were not intentionally trying to slant this map one way or another,” Fortner said.

Nevertheless, the GOP map ends up lumping incumbent lawmakers of the same party together. For example, Democratic Reps. Michelle Mussman Schaumburg and Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates would live in the same proposed district. So would Democratic Sens. Dan Kotowski of Park Ridge and John Mulroe of Chicago.

Republicans aren’t spared, either. Reps. Dennis Rebloetti and Chris Nybo, both of Elmhurst, would live in the same district.

But Republicans are likely to challenge the Democrats’ map proposal in court.

“There is some belief that this could make a difference in our court challenge,” said Sen. Dale Righter, a Republican from downstate Charleston.