Redistricting critical for rural areas

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, and Rep. Hans Hunt, R-Newcastle,  say they are encouraged by the redistricting process that both are engaged in as members of the Joint Corporations, Election and Political Subdivision Committee. The pair met with the Board of Weston County Commissioners on Sept. 21 to update them on where the committee is in the process. 
According to a Sept. 20 press release from the Legislative Service Office, the purpose of redistricting is to “redraw the geographic boundaries of an area from which people are elected as representatives to the legislature.” Under the Wyoming Constitution, the Legislature is required to complete the process before the first budget session following each census to reflect shifts in population. 
The plan will then be adopted by the full Legislature during the 2022 budget session, scheduled to begin Feb. 14. 
“What we have kind of done is gone ahead with a basic set of rules,” said Driskill, chairman of the corporations committee. “We have carved the state into nine regions that roughly fall inside county lines.” 
He noted that Crook, Campbell and Weston counties are blocked together. Senators and representatives may end up representing small populations of Campbell or Crook counties while representing Weston. Driskill said Weston County should, as currently proposed, have its own full representative and Crook County should have its own. 
The committee is doing its best to recognize county lines and use a system of nested districts. 
“Nested districts have two House seats that lay within a Senate seat,” Driskill said, adding that if he had his choice he would be nested with Weston County. 
“Crook and Weston have a long history. If I have my choice, I prefer to be nested with Weston County representatives, Neiman (Chip) and Hunt, at this point,” he said. 
The major concern when it comes to redistricting, the senator said, is the battle over rural versus urban. As previously reported by the News Letter Journal, the 2020 Census shows that rural areas in Wyoming declined in population while the more urban areas experienced significant growth. 
“The biggest county, (with) Cheyenne and Laramie, grew by a full representative and half a senator and they want it,” Driskill said. “If we leave it blocked up, they have 10 representatives and five senators. … I am going to fight to keep them from getting that other representative. That dilutes the rural loads.”
Driskill said that he and Hunt are doing what they can to preserve the rural representation with its shrinking population.
“Natrona grew, Campbell grew and those three counties (including Albany) represent 40% of the state’s population,” he said. “I hate to say it, we are heading down a tough path.” 
Along the same lines, the senator said he takes issue with the one man, one vote rule. He noted that Wyoming should follow the U.S. Constitution and amend Wyoming’s Constitution. 
“It is tragic that we can’t mirror the federal government because we are headed down the same path. Rural areas are shrinking while urban areas are growing,” Driskill said.
“I think one day there will
be a suit (lawsuit). You can’t tell me that someone who represents 14 blocks in Cheyenne and a guy that represents five counties at the same time, that each person gets equal representation.”
Because of this, Driskill said the current redistricting process is critical. He noted that at this point he is comfortable that northeast Wyoming is a “non-issue” and that
this corner of the state should be left alone as the process continues. 
“I don’t see a problem with these three counties,” Hunt added, noting that representatives from all three counties will need to meet to hash out the details. 
Driskill explained that the counties will need to meet with representation because the plan is to allow the county clerks and legislators to divide up the regions. This, he said, is the community interest portion of redistricting emerging because local elected officials will
have a better idea of the community’s needs. 
“So far everyone seems to be in agreement. No real stink has been raised,” Hunt said. “I get some misgiving about a district that goes into representing Campbell because you are split in interest, but that is what we have gone with as a committee so far. We will see how that goes.” 
He noted that the committee is flexible, open to comment and that there is still time to make changes. 
Those wishing to comment can provide suggestions using the Wyoming Legislature’s interactive redistricting mapping portal, according to a press release dated Sept. 20. 
“This online tool allows legislators and members of the public to draw state legislative districts for consideration by the Joint Corporations, Election and Political Subdivision Committee. The user-friendly portal, provided by Maptitude, utilizes population data from the 2020 U.S. Census,” the release states. 
A link to the portal can be found at redistricting.wyoleg.gov/Default.aspx, or on the Legislature’s 2022 redistricting webpage prominently displayed on the wyoleg.gov homepage. 
In addition to the website, Driskill said, public meetings will be held as the process continues toward finalization.