Public overwhelmingly rejects radical Republican plan

AUGUSTA – Maine people from across the state overwhelmingly gave public testimony urging lawmakers to draw a reasonable redistricting map and to find compromise today during a hearing on widely divergent Democratic and Republican plans to reapportion Maine’s Congressional districts.

“Democrats share many of the concerns members of the public raised today,” said Sen. Seth Goodall, D-Richmond, the lead Democrat on the bipartisan commission charged with presenting a plan to the full legislature in September. “We agree that we must put forth a reasonable plan that is the least disruptive to Maine people, that is consistent with law, and that reflects a compromise with our Republican colleagues.”

Democrats presented two simple plans, one that moves one town and another that moves seven. Republicans presented a plan that displaces one in four Maine people from one district to another, moving 360,000 people. The Republican plan disrupts seven counties and 139 municipalities.

More than eighty percent of the people that came to testify, including public officials from counties and towns, select-people, lawmakers, workers and citizens testified against the Republican proposal. They called the Republican plan “radical” and urged the commission to support a fair, logical, and practical plan for redistricting.

“The Republican proposal’s path to achieving balance between the districts is one that radically alters the existing districts, casting aside traditional district divisions not only endorsed but actually drawn by the courts,” said John Smith, a former deputy secretary of state from Brunswick during his testimony to the commission. “The sweeping approach disrupts traditional and logical regional alliances and deprives hundreds of thousands of voters the opportunity to vote for their current Congressperson. It is important that voters not perceive the path taken to achieving this goal as a sweeping political power play.”

Under the GOP plan, geographically based industries, such as shipbuilding and papermaking, would lose the singular focus of one representative devoted to their cause. Instead of developing expertise in a particular field of business or industry, congressional representatives would be torn between the competing interests of different industries in divergent geographical regions.

Mayor Larry Gilbert of Lewiston also attended the public hearing to voice concerns about moving Lewiston into the first Congressional district, as proposed by the Republicans.

“Under the proposal advanced by the Republican Party, I fear that Lewiston would take a back seat to the interests, needs, and wants of the wealthier and more densely populated communities to the south or on the coast, said Gilbert during his public testimony to the commission. “I firmly believe that this will be a loss for our city.”

Gilbert added, “As the largest city in the second district, our infrastructure, health care, education, social service, and cultural needs have been a priority for our members of Congress. Over that time, we’ve been represented by Democratic and Republican members of Congress.”

The mayor of Rockland and the city council also provided testimony during the hearing. The city council passed a resolve on Aug. 22 opposing “any proposal for Maine’s Congressional Districts that would move Rockland and the remainder of Knox County from Congressional District #1 to Congressional District # 2.”

Rockland Mayor Brian Harden submitted the resolve and said that it was passed because Rockland and Knox County share strong economic, cultural, and tourism ties with the communities to the south currently located in the first Congressional District.

“For fifty years, Rockland has been in the first Congressional District,” said Harden in his testimony before the commission. “Please do not use Knox County as a pawn in an inappropriate political game.”

Former Democratic State Rep. Stacy Dostie of Sabattus delivered an online petition signed by 4,000 people urging the commission to reject a radical redistricting proposal. She said that the commission should not be “swayed by the national Republican playbook” to gain control of Maine’s second Congressional seat.

Several members of the public also questioned the cost of implementing radical changes.

“The public comment provides a good spring board for us to get to work on a compromise,” said Sen. Goodall following the hearing. “Democrats remain willing and open to making more progress on plan that can earn two-thirds support in the Legislature.”

Democrats initially introduced a proposal that would move the town of Vassalboro, 4,300 people, to the second Congressional district. Republicans rejected that proposal. On Friday, Democrats publically offered a compromise proposal that brought the population deviation between the two districts down to three people, a key priority for Republicans.

The plan, called the “China-Vassalboro plan,” only moves 19,191 people in seven towns, creating the least confusion possible. It puts Unity Township, China,Vassalboro, Rome, and Albion in the second congressional district, while moving Oakland and Wayne in to the first congressional district. The plan achieves a deviation of only 3 people, a lower standard than that achieved in 2003, when the Congressional districts were last altered. The plan only splits one county Kennebec County, which is already split on the current Congressional map.

The bipartisan commission will meet again on Monday, Aug. 29 to vote on the plans. It must provide a recommendation to the full legislature by Aug. 31 ahead of the Special Session on Sept. 27.

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