A Syracuse University Constitutional Law expert is strongly criticizing how republicans on Onondaga County's Reapportionment Commission are rushing through a process that he says will only continue to divide the county and dilute democracy. There appears to be no additional public hearings on the proposed maps, which were just presented last week.
The commission leadership has come under fire from democratic members and the vast majority of the public for the fast-tracked process and lack of transparency. SU Law School Professor David Driesen worries the objective is to follow the old pattern of gerrymandering and lock the majority in office, in this case the republicans, while weakening the impact of the minority.
"If this committee can agree on maps that all parties thinks are fair, that can do a lot in healing that division and seeing to it that this county does not disintegrate into a place where half the people in the county or more think the process is unfair. I'm very distressed to see two parties maps up here. That is not the way the process should work."
Driesen says gerrymandering has caused, and will continue to exacerbate the growing partisan division in county government.
"People know they can win when they appeal to their party's base, they don't move toward the center, and it can be hard for legislators to work toward compromise. I've noticed in many, many cases, this legislature is not working properly. There are a lot of party line votes, things being done at the last minute without consultation with the minority party."
The professor also had harsh words for how commission chairman Kevin Hulslander, a GOP appointee, unilaterally set public hearings and commission meetings without consulting other members schedules.
"That's disrespectful. It's contrary to our constitutional tradition, which is a tradition of fairness, a tradition of respect for minority parties, a desire for everyone to participate. That kind of process requires that when you set up public hearings that they be set when everyone has said they're available."
Dreisen also expressed dismay at how Hulslander undermined an elections official on the commission who expressed concern about being able to attend to early voting and fulfill his duties on the redistricting commission.
Democrats have revised their draft maps in an attempt to address concerns of republican commissioners and reach a bipartisan compromise. So far, the GOP has not modified its maps. In the end, the professor warned the GOP that their efforts to maintain power may backfire.
"A rushed, obviously unfair process harms the Republican Party by harming their reputation with the public. I urge you to slow down, to reach a bipartisan solution, and draw maps that are about keeping communities together."
