The new redistricting commission has opened its Boise public hearing today, to a fairly light crowd of about 20; first to speak was Tom Faulkner, Gooding County commissioner. He said his county would prefer to be in a district with another county like Twin Falls, rather than with Blaine County as it is now, as his county doesn't like "being included in a county that has such a liberal leaning, I guess." Next up was West Boise resident Steve Berch, who suggested dividing a proposed district in his area horizontally rather than vertically, "on the principle of trying to create like communities together." Commission Co-Chair Dolores Crow responded, "Great idea."

The Boise crowd is lighter than those seen elsewhere around the state; last night in Coeur d'Alene, about 50 people attended, and the night before in Idaho Falls, there was a standing-room-only crowd of about 80 people.