Guest AuthorLike a small handful of Floridians, I’ve been watching the redistricting hearing in Tallahassee over the U.S. Congressional district maps.
As someone who drew and submitted maps, some of which were accepted by the Legislature, I am bemused by the efforts to focus on the politics surrounding the creation of the maps, but not on the actual results.
The usual political fault lines are in play — the liberals care about the “intent” of the law (this feels right, like Obamacare) and conservatives look at the actual results of the law (this is terrible, and the data says so). Many Republicans have lost their seats, including conservative firebrand Allen West. That, however, has zero impact on great political and legal theater.
The Fair Districts amendments, while filled with great intent, were so poorly written that the reapportionment committees would drive a truck through them, as I wrote back in 2011.
Thanks to U.S. Rep. Corinne Brown, D-Gerrymanderville, at Her Own Request, the reapportionment committees did exactly what the law says — protect the “majority-minority” districts.
Here’s what the Florida Constitution says: “districts shall not be drawn with the intent or result of denying or abridging the equal opportunity of racial or language minorities to participate in the political process or to diminish their ability to elect representatives of their choice.”
“I told you so” back in 2011 that specific language would be used to pack then Congressional District 3 — the “Jax to Gainesville to Orlando Snake.” The Republicans would gain more than they would lose, and Rep. Brown would be complicit in destroying the implementation of the Fair Districts in practice.
The language of Amendments 5 and 6, almost Orwellian in nature, will, in my opinion, create permanently gerrymandered districts. As in, “for the rest of our lives” gerrymandered districts.
Thanks to the ineptness of the League of Women Voters and other groups who pushed these amendments, they also left out any definition of “geographical boundary.” Does a county, a city, or other natural or manmade boundary define our districts?
I presented two maps — a “clean” map free of the encumbrances of Rep. Brown’s selfish desires, and that had as few counties as possible chopped up. Then I presented the one protecting the “majority-minority” districts, and voila! legalized gerrymandering was back in play.
Florida is always getting newcomers. Many have no idea if they live in city limits, or an unincorporated area, but they always know if they live north/south/east/west of a road, a lake, or other landmark. Instead of using those, we are forced to start with “majority-minority” districts.
It’s as if we told Leonardo Da Vinci to draw the Mona Lisa, but first you have to start with this odd mustache in the middle of the map. Guess what? You end up with a Mona Lisa with mustache for a painting.
The League of Women Voters used political ambitions to push these amendments, and its members are now shocked to find they were politically outmaneuvered.
This does not bring me any joy. As someone who believes in our country first and not a political party, I wanted districts that forced our representatives to, well, represent everyone in their district. Instead we are left with congressional districts that will have a 90 percent or greater re-election rate.
I’m no judicial prognosticator and have no idea what the judge will do. Unless the judge strikes down the provisions of the 1965 Voter Rights Act and the Fair Districts Amendments that protect the “majority-minority” districts, I am merely reminded of “Macbeth.”
This trial appears to be “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” In the end, the outcome will remain the same — permanently gerrymandered congressional districts.
Henry Kelley is a businessman and founder of the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party. He lives in Okaloosa County. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
