I listened very carefully to the question posed to you on New Hampshire Public Radio’s “The Exchange” program about our upcoming redistricting process. I appreciate that you answered that you are committing to a fair and transparent redistricting process in New Hampshire.
However, I have to say I was concerned when you related that Executive Council District 2 was the only area where you saw anything unusual. We don’t have a lot of openly bizarre-shaped maps, but we do have issues like the towns of Pelham and Hudson being combined to form a district even though they both have 5-digit populations and are entitled to their own House district. There are several Senate districts that are also ‘unusual’ in many towns.
The redistricting process in NH calls for:
■All meetings and work sessions are in public
■Criteria for mapping must be public
■One public hearing in each county
■Final plans released 7 days before the vote
■All data and plans must be public.
I don’t think you are able to say these criteria were met with our last redistricting effort. That is what is creating the current concern from so many. Yet, when legislation is introduced to try to ensure a fair and transparent process it is voted down or vetoed. Why is there so much opposition to a public process?
I very much want to believe that a proper effort will take place but I can’t help but be very concerned because the actions to date would imply otherwise.
Bev Cotton
Weare