Letter from Dennis OH-10

[BillORightsMan]

http://kucinich.us

Dennis Kucinich discusses redistricting on CNN's John King USA

From Dennis: My Congressional District May Be Eliminated

Dear Friend,

The New York Times, Newsweek, and Fox News have all recently headlined stories that I may lose my Congressional seat, not through an election, but through redistricting!

Due to the new census figures, Ohio will lose two seats in Congress. The Ohio Legislature (Republican) will redraw the map with 16 instead of 18 districts for the 2012 Election. Speculation nationally, and more importantly, in Ohio is that my district may be eliminated, absorbed into parts of other districts. Keep in mind, given the early Ohio primary, the filing deadline could be only a year away.

You have helped to make possible my presence in the Congress through seven terms, and carried me through some hotly contested elections. I am very grateful for your continued support. I am also very grateful to the people of Ohio's 10th District for the privilege of serving.

Yet, in light of the strong chance that my district may be eliminated, my continued presence in Congress, to work for everything we care about, will obviously call for a much different strategy. I will not wait until a new Ohio map is produced to begin this crucial discussion of the consequences of congressional redistricting. I will not wait until the Ohio Legislature produces a new map to start thinking of the options. The question will not be: Who is my opponent? The question will be: Where is my district? Seriously.

We are going to have to prepare for a different kind of election, possibly in a different place because my district may be eliminated. We are going to have to organize in a different way, now. The question will remain: Where?

This discussion is consequential. Please participate by providing your insight and advice [e-mail] e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
I will be in contact with you.

Facing the New Year with the usual unsinkable optimism, and wishing you the best New Year ever, I am, yours,
-Dennis Kucinich

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Current OH map (while JENNIFER BRUNNER is still SOS)
PDF <--click
Every ten years, after a decinnial census, Ohio is redistricted. These districts are good until 2012.

I think Betty Sutton's CD-13 (w of CLE and parts of Akron) and Tim Ryan's CD-17 (Youngstown to Akron) will be cut up with Marcia Fudge's CD-11 (formerly Stephanie Tubbs Jones's district - Fudge won with 85%+). Not sure about Marcy Kaptur CD-9 in Toledo but that also looms large. Plus semi-dem John Boccieri lost CD-16 (Canton) - remember gwb visiting Timken Industries in 2004 on the "campaign trail" and then Timken CLOSED thier Canton plant? See Bush and the Timken Plant, a Year Later

Ohio is in the process of creating new rules on how districts are redrawn including who sits on the allegedly newly-formed board. Start here:

Political Gerrymandering: (Part 5) The Ohio Redistricting Competition

In 2009 the Ohio Secretary of State's office under Jennifer Brunner helped to host a public competition to draw fair, nonpartisan congressional legislative districts for the State of Ohio. The results were remarkable.

There was no cost to entering the competition, and competitors were offered free training and software. To qualify, plans had to have roughly equal population in each district, all election districts had to be contiguous (single units), and there had to be one district where African-Americans constitute a majority of the voters in accordance with the Voting Rights Act. Plans that qualified were evaluated on the basis the four following criteria:

I started looking into this but the trail went cold. See what you can find and post below. That is PUT SOME EYEBALLS ON IT

This is exactly what Dennis is concerned about. Call Jennifer Brunner's office NOW [phone] (SOS-OHIO) or local [phone] before the GOPhers take over on Jan 1 2011. (fyi they're closed Dec 31)

I'll see what else I can find...




Please help and spread the word.
:patriot:

[Kolesar]

1. Any direction that they expand LaTourette's 14th district will add Democrats

Heck, Betty Sutton could move back to Chardon and run against him.