Redistricters open Saturday session

It may be the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, but Idaho’s redistricting commission is in session. They have an audience this morning of a half-dozen government students. Democratic Co-Chairman Allen Andersen explained how the commission is trying to draw new legislative and congressional districts. “It’s been arduous,” he noted. GOP Co-Chairman Evan Frasure said he has another zero-deviation legislative district plan that’s in the works; “I hope to get that presented this morning,” he said. Democratic Commissioner George Moses said, “I also have another map to present.”

Moses said after seeing Frasure’s five-county-split map yesterday, “Sure enough, we came up with a way to have a five-county split ourselves.” His new map eliminates the split of Madison County, and makes a change in North Idaho to keep Clark Fork whole. Andersen said the new proposal incorporates some aspects of Frasure’s map from yesterday. “It’s bringing the parties closer together,” he said. The new Democratic plan has an 8.35 percent population deviation.