Action Required: We all need to write and e-mail the Alaska Redistricting Board and attend the Board’s public hearing in Anchorage on Monday, April 18th from 2:00 to 6:00 pm in Suite 200, 716 W. Fourth Avenue.

Background: The Alaska Redistricting Board is responsible for reapportioning all Alaska House and Senate Districts based on the 2010 U.S. Census data.

The 2010 U.S. Census indicates that Alaska now has 710,231 residents. Ideally, each new House District adopted by the Board will include 17,755 residents (710,231 / 40 = 17,755.8).

Our Matanuska-Susitna Borough has 88,995 residents. So our Borough is entitled to five complete House Districts (88,995 / 17,755 = 5.01).

The Mat-Su Borough is a rapidly urbanizing region the size of West Virginia with serious infrastructure, employment, education, social services, public safety and governance issues. Consequently, the Mat-Su deserves and needs five House members and at least two Senators fully dedicated to representing our residents and our challenges. (We are entitled to 2.5 Senators, which means one must also represent an area beyond our Borough Boundaries.)

The Issue: The Board adopted its draft redistricting plan this week. The Board’s two options are attached to this article.

The Board’s gerrymandered plan must be challenged. The Board’s gerrymandering crosses the Mat-Su Borough’s boundaries twice, on the South and on the East. Under the Board’s plan two of our Representatives to only have a part-time commitment to our MatSu problems.

Read the article below this one to learn about how the Board's plan pairs current incumbents.

That is unjust and must be stopped.

What We Can Do About It: The Board’s plan will be appealed to the State Supreme Court because it does not meet the criteria set forth in Federal and State law governing fair reapportionment.

While considering the appeal, the Supreme Court will also have before it a plan prepared by groups interested in preserving the current balance in the Legislature. Our balanced plan (or plans) will be submitted to the Board within the next few days, depending upon what it takes to reach consensus.

Our job in the MatSu is to submit as many letters, e-mails and personal appearances as we can, telling the Board how important it is for the Mat-Su to receive our five full members in the House of Representatives.

The Supreme Court will consider the level of public interest in the various issues as it weighs the legality and fairness of each component of the reapportionment plans before it.

You can help make a difference by going on record in favor of giving the Mat-Su our five full members in the House of Representatives.

Attachments:

Alaska Redistricting Board Adopted Draft Option 1	[ ]	3347 Kb
Alaska Redistricting Board Adopted Draft Option 2	[ ]	3356 Kb