Group targets Pa. gerrymandering
SLIPPERY ROCK — Gerrymandering is the heart of many of Pennsylvania’s issues, according to a new coalition advocating for redistricting reform.
Slippery Rock Huddle hosted Fair Districts PA for a presentation on gerrymandering Wednesday night at McKay Education building on Slippery Rock University’s campus.
Born from the Women’s March held Jan. 21, Slippery Rock Huddle is a way for women to get together, discuss their vision for the future and take action, said Diann DeAngelis, a member of the group.
Denise Seilhamer, of Center Township, another member of the Huddle, said she wanted to bring in Fair Districts PA to educate the group and the public on an issue that she’s become passionate about. About 50 people attended the presentation to hear about Pennsylvania’s gerrymandering problems.
Gerrymandering is the manipulation of legislative districts for political advantage, said Carol Kuniholm, Fair Districts PA chairman. It takes power from the constituents, punishes politicians who don’t play by party rules and makes it hard for legislators to connect with their constituents.
“When you think about redistricting and gerrymandering, the thing to think about is not red versus blue, but whose vote counts, whose voices are discounted and what values are rewarded,” Kuniholm said.
Pennsylvania is a target for political action committees that push for redistricting because it is a state that has consistently needed reapportionment, it’s a swing state and it has lax campaign finance laws, Kuniholm said.
Fair Districts PA supports redistricting reform that involves an independent citizen commission that redraws the maps when the state is reapportioned, like Senate Bill 22, cosponsored by Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th, and Sen. Mario Scavello, R-40th. The reform would require an amendment to the state constitution,
“If we can change this, we can change a great deal of what happens in Pennsylvania,” Kuniholm said.
Currently the state House and Senate districts are redrawn by a five person commission, four party leaders and a chair that is chosen by the court. The partisan committee tends to draw the lines in favor of whichever party has more representatives on the commission at the time, Kuniholm said.
In Butler County, Kuniholm said by the number of residents the county should have three complete House districts and a sliver of another if the districts were drawn representatively. However Butler is actually part of seven state House districts, only two of which are entirely within the county.
For state Senate districts, Butler should encompass one district. Instead it is part of three districts.
Luanne Salaga and Pat Simon, both members of the Democratic Women of Mercer County, said gerrymandering is a huge problem for the state that needs to be addressed. Salaga, of Sharpsville, said she’s been following this issue for several months.
“We know how ineffective it is when we approach our congressman,” Salaga said. “Pennsylvania is a mess. We need to have fair districts. We need to have this amendment so it will always be drawn in fair way from here on out.”
Kuniholm urged people to speak to their legislators, volunteer with the Fair Districts and educate others when possible. The coalition is holding a lobby day May 9 in Harrisburg.
Fair Districts PA was formed January 2016 as a part of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. Kuniholm said interest in redistricting reform has grown exponentially since the presidential election. She attributes the increase to more people becoming aware of politics and the political process.
For more information, visit fairdistrictspa.com.
