For an update on what is going on, see:
http://le.utah.gov/asp/interim/Commit.asp?Year=2011&Com=SPERDT
and also
http://le.utah.gov
At the next meeting, the committee will decide redistricting principles.
I would suggest the following for the Congressional Districts:
1. I believe the number of people should balance to the last person, which means one of the 4 districts will have one person more than the other 3. While difficult, this is possible to do. (2,763,885 doesn't divide evenly in 4 parts).
2. In creating the 4 congressional districts, I believe we should keep as many counties intact and not split them as much as possible. Based on 2010 census numbers, I believe you will need to split at least 2 counties between congressional districts. You shouldn't split more than 3.
3. In creating the 4 congressional districts, I believe we should keep as many cities intact and not split them as much as possible. Based on 2010 census numbers, I believe you will need to split at least 3 cities. You shouldn't split more than 4.
4. Based on the above, I believe Salt Lake County could be primarily in 2 districts with small parts in the other 2 districts. With over 1 million people in Salt Lake County, and about 2.7 million people in the state, I don't believe there is a better way.
The above guidelines are ideals, and can be done for the Congressional Districts. For the other redistricting districts, a little more leeway should be given to avoid dividing up neighborhoods, counties and cities all the time. They should still balance closer than 4% of each other, which will require more dividing neighborhoods anyway.
Further, I would think the following are things to avoid:
To create a "Rep. ________ Only" district in Salt Lake County I believe would be a mistake. Where possible, it would be better that the districts are winnable by both parties and not favor one party. The vote in 1990 for the 3rd Congressional district shows that is easy, as the voters can pull a surprise.
I do not favor trying to use redistricting to make a race unfair. I would rather have at least 2 good candidates running in each race, because the candidate you or I want doesn't always win, and you want someone good elected in office.
Below is an example of a 4 congressional district map I designed prior to 2010 Census Block numbers being available. It isn't perfect, but it is based on the ideas above. To be exact, the number of cities in Davis County falling in the 2nd Congressional District would be reduced and the size of Salt Lake City in the 1st Congressional District would be smaller. The only Cities to be divided would be in Salt Lake County and be larger than 20,000 people.
http://www.fredcox4utah.com/UTAH-4b2%20Model%20%281%29.pdf
The software soon being provided to the public will allow better detail and allow selections based on Counties, Cities, and Census Blocks. The number of people in a Census Block vary from 0 to over 1000. You can't go smaller than a census block because we don't know where the numbers of people are any smaller. That may mean you will need to divide a county or city you don't plan to.
If you are tired of waiting, see this previous post for some numbers to start with:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2011/03/redistricting-numbers-and-ideas.html
2. In creating the 4 congressional districts, I believe we should keep as many counties intact and not split them as much as possible. Based on 2010 census numbers, I believe you will need to split at least 2 counties between congressional districts. You shouldn't split more than 3.
3. In creating the 4 congressional districts, I believe we should keep as many cities intact and not split them as much as possible. Based on 2010 census numbers, I believe you will need to split at least 3 cities. You shouldn't split more than 4.
4. Based on the above, I believe Salt Lake County could be primarily in 2 districts with small parts in the other 2 districts. With over 1 million people in Salt Lake County, and about 2.7 million people in the state, I don't believe there is a better way.
The above guidelines are ideals, and can be done for the Congressional Districts. For the other redistricting districts, a little more leeway should be given to avoid dividing up neighborhoods, counties and cities all the time. They should still balance closer than 4% of each other, which will require more dividing neighborhoods anyway.
Further, I would think the following are things to avoid:
To create a "Rep. ________ Only" district in Salt Lake County I believe would be a mistake. Where possible, it would be better that the districts are winnable by both parties and not favor one party. The vote in 1990 for the 3rd Congressional district shows that is easy, as the voters can pull a surprise.
I do not favor trying to use redistricting to make a race unfair. I would rather have at least 2 good candidates running in each race, because the candidate you or I want doesn't always win, and you want someone good elected in office.
Below is an example of a 4 congressional district map I designed prior to 2010 Census Block numbers being available. It isn't perfect, but it is based on the ideas above. To be exact, the number of cities in Davis County falling in the 2nd Congressional District would be reduced and the size of Salt Lake City in the 1st Congressional District would be smaller. The only Cities to be divided would be in Salt Lake County and be larger than 20,000 people.
http://www.fredcox4utah.com/UTAH-4b2%20Model%20%281%29.pdf
The software soon being provided to the public will allow better detail and allow selections based on Counties, Cities, and Census Blocks. The number of people in a Census Block vary from 0 to over 1000. You can't go smaller than a census block because we don't know where the numbers of people are any smaller. That may mean you will need to divide a county or city you don't plan to.
If you are tired of waiting, see this previous post for some numbers to start with:
http://fredcox4utah.blogspot.com/2011/03/redistricting-numbers-and-ideas.html
