Hanover Tp (NC) Supervisors Endorse Gerrymander Reform

Cecil Blocker and his companion. She
denied she is his daughter.  

You can add Hanover Tp (Northampton County) to the list over 270 counties, cities, townships and boroughs fighting for redistricting reform in Harrisburg. At their July 24 meeting, Supervisors voted 3-1 in favor of a resolution supporting a constitutional change that will allow an independent and inclusive commission to draw the boundaries for state legislative and congressional races.

Supporting this nonbinding resolution were Susan Lawless, Michael Prendeville and John Diacogiannis. Voting No was Steve Salvesen. Jack Nagle was absent.

The vote followed a debate in which Salvesen argued that the resolution was not just "outside the Constitution of the United States and state law," but "might even be in violation of the oath of office we took."  He condemned "activist judges"on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court "who decided to become legislators" and draw their own map He said the current law is "very clear" and contains "no ambiguity."

"It very clearly has not worked," responded Lawless. Diacogiannis agreed. He acknowledged that no commission is truly independent, but it was time to try something less political. "It may turn out to be just as bad as we have it now," he said. 

Solicitor Jim Broughal advised Supervisors that nothing in the resolution is contrary to the Constitution. Salvesen acknowledged that he's no lawyer

After the vote, a group of about ten Fair Districts Pa members applauded the board. That grassroots group describes itself as a "nonpartisan, citizen-led, statewide coalition working to create a process for redistricting that is transparent, impartial, and fair."  They included Hanover Township residents Joanne Kelhart, Esq., Jean Shenk and Cecil Blocker.

"My vote doesn't count," said Blocker. "I find that to be unacceptable."

As Supervisors turned to other items on the agenda, most of this citizens' group melted away. Salvesen, a veteran of many political firestorms in his career, said that he had driven them off, and jokingly threatened to bring the matter up again once they were gone.

Hanover Tp (NC) Asked to Endorse Redistricting Reform

Terry Schettini pitches redistricting reform in Hanover Tp

Hanover Tp (Northampton County) Supervisors have been asked to join 19 counties and over 250 cities, townships and boroughs to fight for redistricting reform in Harrisburg. About 20 people from Fair Districts Pa. filled the municipal building June 26 to complain about the gerrymander.

Fair Districts Pa describes itself as a "nonpartisan, citizen-led, statewide coalition working to create a process for redistricting that is transparent, impartial, and fair."

Resident Cecil Blocker, wearing a Fair District Pa. T-shirt, was very blunt. "My vote won't count in the coming election," he complained. He explained that he is a Democrat in State Rep. Marcia Hahn's Legislative District, and that his vote will never count because her boundaries are gerrymandered to ensure she has solid Republican support. "Her District looks like a fat 'I' with warts," he lamented.

A bill that would end gerrymandering and replace it with a independent citizen commission has cleared the state senate, but Hahn has yet to sponsor any of the bills under consideration in the House. Her opponent in November's election, Bethlehem School Director Dean Donaher, supports an independent citizen commission.

Hanover Township resident Jean Shenk, who met with Hahn, said she was told no one seemed that concerned about the gerrymander. Hahn did agree to poll constituents in newsletters, and Shenk claimed that 70% of those responding do consider redistricting reform an issue. "This isn't a ninth grade civics lesson that you forgot about a long time ago," said Shenk.

In addition to the remarks made by Shenk and Blocker, Supervisors heard a brief presentation from Fair District Pa.'s Terry Schettini. He told them that gerrymandering has led to the current gridlock in Harrisburg, and this prevents local government from serving their community.

He also pointed out gerrymandering is a double-edged sword, and that Democrats could just as easily manipulate the process as Republicans.

Time is running short on redistricting reform. This must be approved by voter referendum, and before that can happen,the state legislature must pass a law calling for a referendum in two consecutive sessions. If this fails to happen this year, it will be toolate because the next census is in 2020. Redistricting reform will have to wait another ten years for the 2030 census.

In the Lehigh Valley, resolutions supporting redistricting reform have passed in Lehigh and Nortampton Counties, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Coopersburg, Lower Macungie, Lowhill, Lynn, Macungie, North Whitehall, South Whitehall, Upper Milford,Upper Saucon, Washington, Weisenberg, Whitehall, Bethlehem Tp and Williams.

Supervisors were provided a sample resolution to consider, but took no action.

In other business, Public Works director Vince Milite reported that is being repaved. Macada Road is next, after the July 4 holiday.

Manager Jay Finnigan said he will soon be seeking proposals for an update to the Township's comprehensive plan, which should cost between $50,000-80,000.

The next scheduled meeting for Township Supervisors is on Tuesday, July 8, at the municipal building on Jacksonville Rd, starting at 7 pm. Supervisors only meet once in July.