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More groups file suit against redistricting commission

Late last week several groups filed suit against the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, alleging partisan bias. Drawing districts that are competitive is part of the mandate for the group, but there are many other factors to consider, including adherence to the Federal Voting Rights Act and attempting to keep communities of interest together. One of the groups filing suit was the League of Women Voters, which has a chapter here in the Copper Country.

State Senator Ed McBroom says he remains in favor of a redistricting commission, in theory, but is not satisfied with the results. He does not believe that the lawsuits will play a big factor at the state level.

Most of these lawsuits are over the Congressional maps, and I don’t think that’s going to change anything for us in the Upper Peninsula unfortunately.

McBroom cites the new 110th House District in his criticisms.

All these districts are really, really frustrating and disturbing. It’s obvious that they didn’t really evaluate communities of interest, otherwise Baraga wouldn’t have been separated from Houghton in exchange to be mixed in with Norway. Take Iron Mountain away from Norway and put it with Houghton. It’s just clearly nonsense. This is true all over the state.

He says the legal advice given to the commission was poor and believes the court challenges to the new districts have a lot of merit.

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