Let demographics determine districts

The posturing surrounding the DuPage County Board's decision to codify the board's power to appoint members and officers of a committee to draw new legislative districts next year is a reminder of how political that process will be. The board's rule change did more than just affect the appointment of this one committee, but it's getting the most attention. ("DuPage board makes changes to chairman's power" Sept. 15.)

And, for office holders, gerrymandering is one of the most important functions they perform as legislators as there is no better incumbent retention strategy than favorably drawing districts. It's time governments remove the gamesmanship from redistricting. The gerrymandering process should be as apolitical as the board claims last week's vote was.

DuPage County can set an example for the state of Illinois by adopting a plan that removes politics from the process. For three decades, Iowa legislators have ceded most of their redistricting power to the state's Legislative Service Agency, which provides administrative and technological services for the General Assembly. The revolutionary idea embedded within the Iowa plan is that the people drawing the districts are forbidden from receiving data concerning the address of incumbents, political affiliations of registered voters and previous election results. The LSA can only rely on demographic information provided by the census and maps of the state showing the political subdivisions and geographic features that make sensible district boundaries. The legislature still advises the LSA during the process and votes on the final map. The Illinois General Assembly is sure to show us the ugly side of redistricting next year, and more than a few states will end up debating district boundaries in a courthouse rather than a capitol, but there is a better way. Demographics should determine districts.

Bret Bender

Downers Grove