Dubauskas: Redistricting could split Scottsdale, turn Arizona blue
Posted
By Jan Dubauskas
Redistricting is a normal part of our political process and while it should be a neutral, non-partisan activity, Scottsdale is under attack and we need you to help stop partisan efforts to silence our voice.
Setting up districts is like creating the chess board. A fair board is what players need — layered with good rules — for a fair game to commence. And that’s what we are seeking with our redistricting.
With updated population and census data, states go through a routine redistricting process. After the 2020 census, Arizona is going through its redistricting. During redistricting, our 30 Legislative Districts and nine Congressional districts are redrawn to account for population changes.
Redistricting is a critical component of our state’s political structure. Get it right, Arizona votes Republican. Get it wrong, Arizona is suddenly a blue state.
In Arizona, we have an Independent Redistricting Committee (AIRC) that is made up of two Republicans, two Democrats, and one Independent. The AIRC hires a map making company and they start the map drawing process from scratch, as required by the Arizona State Constitution.
Ten years ago, Republicans did not have their eye on the ball and you have watched our beautiful state slowly turn purple. We almost lost our majority because the Democrats paid attention to redistricting and we did not. This time, we have our eyes on the ball and we must not only protect our Republican majority, we need to restore it to its rightful place.
We need you to make it happen. The Democrats are attacking our Republican majority. And we need you to speak up and let the AIRC know that we
live, work, and play within the same city and community — we won’t let the Democrats cherry pick our boundary lines to divide us up and turn Arizona blue!
And you can see how they’re doing it. Today, Legislative District 23 is made up of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Rio Verde.
In the AIRC’s proposed map, Scottsdale would be divided into three different legislative districts, with the northern third stretching 35 miles - containing Rio Verde, Fountain Hills, north Scottsdale, north Phoenix – all the way to I-17! It doesn’t make any sense to arbitrarily put these distinct communities together and split up Scottsdale – unless it’s the Democrats trying to consolidate Republican votes and silence our voice.
Here’s where you can help KEEP Arizona RED:
Go to https://irc.az.gov/contact-us and submit a comment today!
In your own words, tell the AIRC:
“I live, shop, work, go to church, and play in Scottsdale and it makes no sense for Scottsdale to be divided into 1/3rd sections.”
“The western boundary for the Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde district should be the city line, which is Scottsdale Road, not I-17!”
“Scottsdale is known nationally as a special and distinct community – it should not be split into three different districts with three different representatives. We need to be together so that we can keep Scottsdale special.”
“Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Rio Verde are western, equestrian cities, north Phoenix and I-17 are filled with young families, our communities are different and shouldn’t be in the same district.”
“A district that spans 35 miles wide from Rio Verde to the I-17 is too wide for a representative to understand all those different communities. Consolidate the district so that we can be represented by people who live in our neighborhoods.”
The final redistricting map will be in place for 10 years. This is a critical component of our political structure in Arizona and we need your voice! Please send your comment in today!
Editor’s Note: Jan Dubauskas lives in Scottsdale with her husband and children. She is an attorney and a candidate for State Senate in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde – Legislative District 23.
