County Backs Off Radical Precinct Cut

Item: From 71 to 70: Move is minimal amount needed to accommodate legislative redistricting /Alecia Warren, Coeur d’Alene Press

More Info: Recognizing that this year already poses election challenges, and that they can make more changes later on, Kootenai County commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to only reduce voter precincts from 71 to 70. It’s the minimal tweaking necessary to accommodate the recent legislative redistricting, the commissioners said, and respects public outcry that their original goal of dropping to 44 precincts might threaten representation. … On the 70-precinct map, which was considered on Tuesday beside proposals for 44 and 50 precincts, voters in the large precinct 38 will be split into precincts 37 and 42. The precinct with the highest number of voters will drop from 2,847 to 1,727. The lowest will also lower from 992 to 389.

Question: Who do you think was pushing the radical precinct reduction — Clerk Cliff Hayes or one of the county commissioners?