LOCAL GOP MEMBER UPSET WITH REDISTRICTING PLAN
Monday, July 11th, 2011 -- 12:06 PM
A GOP [url=http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ltsb/redistricting/bills.htm]plan to redraw congressional and legislative boundaries[/url] is drawing extreme fire from local Republicans."There's something called 'integrity.' Things should be done properly," laments Bill Elmhorst, Vice Chairman of the Clark Co. Republican Party. "I would say it's unethical."
The Republican plan is an apparent attempt to shore up the 7th Congressional District for Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Ashland). It uses a slender corridor to attach left-leaning Portage County to the 3rd Congressional District, currently represented by Ron Kind (D-La Crosse).
"They've now created a district in the 7th that is about 300 miles long and in the 3rd district, they're going all the way from Portage County, which is east central, all the way to the southwestern corner of the state," Elmhorst notes.
"I would say it's unacceptable."
The plans were released on Friday, but Elmhorst has already spoken with other party members who feel the same way.
Under the proposed Congressional redistricting, all of Clark County would be covered by the 7th District. Rep. Ron Kind?s 3rd congressional district would travel through a small corridor in Adams and Juneau County to pick up the left-leaning Portage Co.
While Kind blasted the plan last week, Elmhorst notes it will be good for him professionally.
"It would strengthen their district (Democrats) and Ron Kind has already run strong," Elmhorst argues, "and I'd like to see him defeated, but this has made it virtually impossible for Republicans in that district to ever have a chance of winning it."
The legislative redistricting proposal would have major ramifications for Clark County as well. The 69th Assembly district, which currently covers almost all of Clark County, would shift east. The western half of Clark County ? including the City of Greenwood ? would be covered by the 68th Assembly District.
State Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder, who currently represents the 69th district, has not returned phone calls seeking comment.
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