By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – If anything in the every-ten-years redistricting looks like the familiar playbook, State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) says it’s this.
“Democratic politicians picking the Illinoisans that will be their voters for the next decade,” Severin told an online news conference Monday, “behind closed, locked doors in Springfield, dropping the map at 7:30 on a Friday night, is just about as Illinois as it gets.”
A Democratic leader defends the maps and the process.
“Well, I think it complies with the Voting Rights Act, it complies with other judicial mandates and caveats,” said State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea). “I think if you look at it, it’s compact and contiguous, and we’ll debate it in the redistricting hearings this week.”
Those hearings are Tuesday and Wednesday, at 4 and 6 p.m., at www.ilga.gov.
The draft which came out Friday has many Republicans potentially competing with other Republicans in a 2022 primary, because their homes are now in the same districts – one district even has four incumbent House Republicans in it. When reminded few Democrats see the same fate, Hoffman said that is something which can be discussed in those hearings.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
