kgrasha@lsj.com
May 29, 2011
From the Lansing State Journal
MASON - A plan approved on May 23 redraws Ingham County commissioner district lines, squeezing out one mostly suburban district as well as one urban district.
In a 4-1 vote, the county's Apportionment Commission approved the plan, which gives the county 14 commissioner districts instead of 16.
Barring a successful appeal, the new districts will go into effect in 2012.
"It's gerrymandering - at least some of it is," said Ingham County Republican Party Chairwoman Linda Lee Tarver, who cast the lone vote against the plan. "There is some (attempt to create) a political advantage, which is in violation of the law."
The five-member commission, according to state law, must include the heads of the two largest political parties in the county. The other three members are the county's clerk, prosecutor and treasurer, who in Ingham County are all Democrats.
'Status quo'
In an interview, Commissioner Mark Grebner, D-District 10, said the new districts model changes in population and "maintains the status quo."
Via email, Commissioner Steve Dougan, R-District 14, said, "It's just one more time where county government is abusing the rural townships to the benefit of the urban areas, but in this case, the abuse of the rural townships is from county Clerk Mike Bryanton, county Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings and county Treasurer Eric Schertzing, who are the majority of the apportionment committee.
"They're doing their best to muffle the voices of rural Ingham County by trying to gerrymander out one of the four seats that represent that part of the county."
A plan approved Monday redraws Ingham County commissioner district lines, squeezing out one mostly suburban district as well as one urban district.
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III presented the approved plan, one of three the commission considered.
Dunnings said it was the one that most clearly followed state law and created districts that were as close as possible to being the same size in terms of population.
The plan makes Meridian Township two whole districts, rather than including part of it in a third.
It also creates a district that includes much of Delhi Township, although that district was drawn to include part of south Lansing.
Keeping entities such as Delhi Township together was the most important factor, Dunnings said, adding that Lansing had to be broken up slightly because of its population decline.
Since 2000, Delhi Township's population has increased by more than 3,300 residents, according to this year's census - the biggest jump in the county.
By contrast, Lansing's population declined by about 5,000.
Five rural townships, Lansing Township as well as the towns of Webberville and Leslie, saw small population declines, totaling about 1,100. The rest of the county - including East Lansing, Mason and Williamston - either had modest or significant increases in population.
Democrats now hold a 12-4 majority on the Board of Commissioners.
Kris Zawisza, a Lansing resident who has observed the process on behalf of the League of Women Voters, said it was important that the commission represent the people's interest, rather than the interests of individual commissioners, and keep communities intact.
"I think you've done a very good job," Zawisza told the commission.
Ingham County Community News Editor Christie Bleck contributed to this report.
The map of the new county commissioner districts can be found at the following URL: http://www.ingham.org/CL/Election_night_reporting/CommDistMap_Dsize2010_PLAN_C.pdf
The City of Mason will now be in District 14.
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