Pieces missing at map meeting

Ohio commission urged to end gerrymandering

The Trumbull County Democratic party, Mahoning / Trumbull County Democratic Women's Caucus and Trumbull County Young Democrats are hosting a countywide sign distribution event.

The yard sign drive-thru distribution will be 4 to 6 p.m. today in the back of the Pinetree Plaza behind the Trumbull Democratic headquarters in Niles. Cars will enter at the end of the back lot of Pinetree Plaza near Handyman Hardware and exit toward Robbins Avenue.

YOUNGSTOWN -- The message to the Ohio Redistricting Commission from those testifying at a Youngstown hearing was consistent: End the gerrymandering of legislative lines.

But only two of the seven commission members attended Monday's hearing at Youngstown State University.

DeWine, a Republican, chose instead to watch a Cincinnati Bengals practice and sent Matt Donahue, his chief legal counsel, to Youngstown and to an earlier hearing in Cleveland. Monday was the first day of the five-day, 10-location hearings across the state.

"The regional meetings are usually staff-led listening tours," Dan Tierney, DeWine's spokesman, said. "The governor sent one of his top deputies. He intends to review the materials. Historically, governors haven't attended these meetings."

Other no-shows who sent designees were Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, Senate President Matt Huffman, all Republicans, as well as House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, a Democrat who attended the Cleveland session but skipped Youngstown.

The only members to attend the Youngstown hearing were state Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, the commission's co-chairman with Cupp, and Auditor Keith Faber, a Republican.

"This is the most important thing in a decade, and they can't show up in the Mahoning Valley," said state Rep. Michael J. O'Brien, D-Warren, who attended the Youngstown hearing.

Bria Bennett of Warren Township, a Democrat who is seeking to succeed O'Brien, said DeWine and LaRose "can make their way across Ohio to cut ribbons" and attend other events, "but can't be here to show up for these hearings. They show they don't care about us."

Ohio is using a new redistricting system that is supposed to reduce gerrymandering. The commission has to follow certain rules such as not splitting counties more than once, when it's possible, and making the district compact.

It is in charge of drawing new lines for the 99 Ohio House and 33 state Senate districts.

At least one of the two Democrats on the commission has to vote yes on a 10-year map. A four-person majority, without Democratic support, is needed for a four-year map. Sept. 1 is the commission's first deadline for a 10-year map. It has until Sept. 15 for a final 10-year map.

It also may get involved in congressional district lines if the General Assembly can't approve a map.

Bill Padisak, president of the Mahoning-Trumbull AFL-CIO Labor Council, said Republicans have "manipulated" the maps in the past for the political party's advantage.

"People want fair maps and fair representation," he said. "No matter which political party, when you're gerrymandering, it's wrong."

Based on new census data, a population loss in Trumbull County likely will require the two House seats to grow. The 64th District includes six southern communities in Ashtabula County. A new district could include more of Ashtabula or possibly a portion of Portage or another county.

Mahoning County will have two state House districts with the county split in two and likely very similar to what is in place.