Redistricters finish whirlwind hearings, start deliberations tomorrow

Here’s a link to my Sunday column on the redistricting hearings that the state’s new bipartisan citizen commission held around the state last week; after crisscrossing the state, from Idaho Falls to Coeur d’Alene to Boise in three days, the commission will start its deliberations on new legislative and congressional districts tomorrow. The hearings gave Idahoans a formal chance to respond to plan L-83, the compromise legislative district plan agreed to by the former commission after its deadline had passed; new Commissioner Randy Hansen said the input gave him ideas for “improvements.”

Over the weekend, Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey reported that the new commission appears united in its goal of following legal precedent, including Idaho Supreme Court decisions specifically declaring the importance of not unnecessarily dividing counties; you can read his report here . There’s more info here on the redistricting commission, proposed plans, and upcoming meetings.