MML #1: Stuff to Know About Redistricting and New Election Laws (Crystal A. Proxmire, April 29, 2019) Lansing, MI- Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and other experts on local elections were on hand for the Michigan Municipal League Capital Conference in March educate elected officials from across the state on what newly-passed laws mean for…
On the Ballot: Michigan Proposal 2 to Create Redistricting Commission Proposal 18 – 2 A proposed constitutional amendment to establish a commission of citizens with exclusive authority to adopt district boundaries for the Michigan Senate, Michigan House of Representatives and U.S. Congress, every 10 years This proposed constitutional amendment would: – Create a commission of…
Professor’s Presentation Sheds Light on Gerrymandering (Sam Gurwin, April 26, 2018) Birmingham, MI- We may remember a snake-like diagram from middle school that illustrated “Gerrymandering.” The sketch reminds most of history, this idea that in the past corruption dictated voting districts. This political practice was named after Governor Elbridge Gerry, the Massachusetts Governor of old…
Professor’s Presentation Sheds Light on Gerrymandering (Sam Gurwin, April 26, 2018) Birmingham, MI- We may remember a snake-like diagram from middle school that illustrated “Gerrymandering.” The sketch reminds most of history, this idea that in the past corruption dictated voting districts. This political practice was named after Governor Elbridge Gerry, the Massachusetts Governor of old…
Residents Discuss The Road to Redistricting Reform (Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 2, 2017) Pleasant Ridge, MI – The idea that “voters should pick their representatives instead of representatives picking their voters” is one that proponents of redistricting reform hope will resonate with residents regardless of their political persuasion. Many people are unfamiliar with how the…
Community Conversation about Redistricting Feb. 1 (EVENT page) Pleasant Ridge, MI – Gerrymandering and Non-Partisan Redistricting are important topics in Michigan. Join us for an informational presentation and discussion on these topics with Kevin Deegan-Krause. Kevin is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Wayne State University, and has a passion for a fair voting…
League of Women Voters Michigan Discusses Redistricting (Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 6, 2015) “The problem,” said Michigan League of Women Voters of Michigan President Judy Karandjeff, “Is the politicians are drawing their own voting maps to manipulate elections and keep themselves and their party in power.” Karandjeff spoke to over 50 people at a recent…
Bill Mullins, press liaison for County Executive Patterson, said “We completely expected it to go 2-1. Two of the judges were [former Governor Jennifer] Granholm’s appointees and we fully expected them to sway that way. We have already filed in the Michigan Supreme Court and we hope to have a ruling in the next 2-3 weeks.”
HB 5187 has passed both the State House and State Senate, and now only needs Governor Rick Snyder’s signature to become law. If Snyder signs, the bill would reduce the number of County Commissioners in Oakland County from 25 to 21, and remove the authority to draw electoral districts from the current committee to give it to the commission as a whole, putting control in the hands of the majority party.
Therefore Be it Resolved that this City Council in the strongest terms vigorously opposes this last minute partisan attempt to impose new state rules on our county that removes local control, negates the actions of county voters, forces a new system of redistricting without our consent and places the ability of drawing new county commission lines in the very hands of the current sitting majority county commissioners which is unfair, unethical, and possibly illegal, and we call on the Michigan Senate and the Governor of the State of Michigan to oppose this bill.”
The State House of Representatives passed HB 5187 today. If the bill progresses through the Senate and is signed by the Governor, it would cap the number of County Commissioners in any county to 21. It would also take away the authority of the current body to draw the new district lines. If passed, Oakland County would then have 30 days to jettison four elected officials and re-draw the District lines.