NorCo Council v. The Gerrymander

Do you think that voters should select their legislators or that they should decide who gets to vote for or against them? Under the current system in Pennsylvania, state legislative leaders get together and slice up districts pretty much to protect incumbents. As a result, Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent has a district extending from Easton to Dauphin County. Instead of being the Congressman from the Lehigh Valley, he's the Congressman from I-78. In Allentown, one legislative district has been established primarily for people of Latino or Hispanic descent, which dilutes their influence in other districts. This is gerrymandering.

State Senator Lisa Boscola, a Democrat, and State Rep.Dave Parker, a Republican, have introduced legislation to slay the gerrymander. Instead of permitting state legislators to carve up districts to protect each other, this legislation will establish an independent commission to do the redistricting, made up of nonpoliticians. Though it's too late for this to pass in the current legislative session, numerous Lehigh Valley State legislators, both Democrat and Republican, are cosponsors  And at their October 20 meeting, Northampton County Council adopted a resolution urging the state legislature to end gerrymandering. The vote was 8-0,with Matt Dietz being absent.    

"At least we have added our voice for fair and equitable redistricting," said Peg Ferraro, a long-time proponent of redistricting reform. Glenn Geissinger, who has personal experience with a gerrymandered district as a former congressional candidate, said the way redistricting is done is "a system that makes absolutely no sense." Ken Kraft, who cosponsored Ferraro's resolution, noted that Northampton County Council has always done its redistricting fairly. "If we can do it, so can they" he said.