Redistricting panel to hold hearing in BHC
 
By NEIL YOUNG
Mohave Daily News
 
BULLHEAD CITY — The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission will make a return visit to Bullhead City this week to gauge public reaction to state legislative and U.S. congressional maps.

Like the previous public hearing, this will be the only IRC meeting held in Mohave County during this round. As to why Bullhead City got the nod again, as opposed to Kingman or Lake Havasu City, "The cooperation we have received from the city government in Bullhead has been very good. Things went so well in the first round it was an easy decision to go back," said Stuart Robinson, IRC public information officer.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Bullhead City council chamber, 1255 Marina Blvd. It will be streamed live across the state at www.azredistricting.org and will also be available live at www.bullheadcity.com and on Suddenlink cable channel 4.

"The main purpose of these hearings is for the general public to talk to the commissioners about what they like and don’t like about the draft maps," Robinson said. "So, you’re not going to hear a lot of the commission talking to them; You’re going to hear their fellow Arizonans talking to the commissioners."

There will be a brief PowerPoint presentation, followed by comments from the public. Robinson did not know which commissioners will be attending the meeting. Two out of five attended the previous meeting. Generally, all of them watch the meetings on the Internet.

Both District 3 state representatives are critical of the draft legislative district map that will sever Colorado City and the remainder of northern Mohave County from the district. "My primary concern is that ... the northern part of Mohave County will never get represented," said Rep. Doris Goodale (R-Kingman). "The last time they were separated from us, they never saw a legislator or senator and had no (real) representation."

"Most of the folks up there are Republicans and it’s a pretty sure bet that northeastern district is going to be in Democrat hands and whoever holds that seat won’t have any reason to go visit with them," said Rep. Nancy McLain (R-Bullhead City). McLain is serving her final term due to term limits, but is considering a run for state senate.

McLain is also questioning the congressional map that extends into the eastern suburbs of Phoenix and into Pinal County, which lies between Phoenix and Tucson. "That just makes no sense to me whatsoever," McLain said.

District 3 State Sen. Ron Gould (R-Lake Havasu City), who may be running for that congressional seat, also said he would have preferred the district include some of western Maricopa County instead of stretching farther east and south.

Redistricting responsibilities were taken away from the state legislature and given to an independent commission as the result of an initiative passed by voters in 2000.
 
MohaveDailyNews.com
Originally published Tuesday, October 18, 2011
 
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