State Representative wants public to have more say on districts

Posted on February 22, 2015

Franks wants more citizen input on redistricting. (Illinois legislative redistricting website)

By IRN/Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The cycle goes this way: Census. Redistricting. Complaining about redistricting.
 
State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) is proposing a change to the politically-driven process of redrawing the maps, a process which, Franks says, protects the incumbents.
 
“The dismal turnout in our elections, is, I think, a direct result where people think their voices don’t really matter,” Franks says.
 
Members of the State Board of Elections would propose the boundaries for the Illinois General Assembly districts and for the U.S. House of Representatives districts. The legislature, Franks says, would give it an up-or-down vote.
 
A Temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission (TRAC) of nominees from the four legislative leaders, and a fifth person decided by a vote of those four nominees, would give non-binding advice to the elections board. Franks says the TRAC would be devoid of elected officials.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…