28
2011
Snyder signs bill to rejigger county’s redistricting rules
An article by Kirk Pinho
Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a controversial redistricting bill into law that applies only to Oakland County and requires the Republican-controlled county Board of Commissioners to redraw the board’s district boundaries after a panel helmed by Democrats passed a district map in May.
Democrats decried the legislation, House Bill (HB) 5187, sponsored by state Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R-Lake Orion), as a political maneuver designed to wrench control of the redistricting process away from them after the state Court of Appeals upheld the legality of the district lines the five-member county Reapportionment Commission approved in a 3-2 party-line vote in May.
However, HB 5187, which also whittles the county board from 25 to no more than 21 members, was an effort to save the county approximately $250,000 annually in commissioners’ salaries and benefits, proponents have argued.
“The current law required Oakland County have at least 25 elected county commissioners,” said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson earlier this month in a statement of support. “In fact, it allowed for the election of an additional 10 commissioners, or a total of 35 possible slots. We agree with the majority of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners: there is no need for Oakland or any other county to elect and pay for more than 21 elected commissioners.”
County Democratic leadership has said that a legal challenge to the legislation, which became Public Act 280 of 2011, is likely. Houston said he is confident it will be filed within the next 10 days.
“Today is a sad day for more than just Oakland County voters or Democrats, but for people everywhere who care about the rule of law and the separation of powers that the Constitution calls for,” said Oakland County Democratic Party Chairman Frank Houston, who also chaired the Oakland County Reapportionment Commission, in a press release following Snyder signing the legislation. “Mr. Snyder apparently has decided to be ‘the Governor who stole democracy’ this holiday season. It is outrageous that Gov. Snyder signed this Republican power grab bill into law, in effect changing redistricting retroactively just for Oakland County.”
Some Democrats have also said it could change around the county’s 2012 election schedule if a court challenge becomes lengthy, or if the county commission — which will have until the May 12 filing deadline to redraw district maps — is unable to complete the redistricting process in time.
“Can this throw a monkey wrench in the election process? Yes, it can,” said state Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills), who also called the legislation a “blatant attack” on peoples’ elections rights and protections.
Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Bill Bullard, Jr. said last week that a case in the 1980s over the state legislative redistricting process changed around the election cycle in 1984.
“I don’t know what the process (for the county board redistricting) is going to be,” said Oakland County Commissioner John Scott (R-Waterford, West Bloomfield). “We can do it now as a board. I’m assuming we are going to have to set up a committee and figure out how we are going to structure it. I think it’s being looked at probably by the chair and the (county) clerk and probably the (Republican) caucus chair.”
Staff in Jacobsen’s office were unavailable for comment prior to press time.
About the Author: Kirk Pinho
Kirk Pinho is the assistant news editor for the Spinal Column Newsweekly and covers Oakland County and state politics and government. He holds an MFA in poetry from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a BA in creative writing and political science from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. He first started with SCN Communications Group in 2005 as a staff writer and became assistant editor in 2010.
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House Bill (HB) 5187 is yet another power grab by Republicans and more evidence of just how corrupt their party is.
I have been following this bill, urging the Governor to Veto this partisan act to dilute the vote in our county . This Legislation from county/state republicans reenforces the statement by Executive Patterrson describing his worry and concern of having a commissioner’s board were he was not the majority for as he said he never had to deal with a minority Republican Board.
It is pretty scarey to think he felt so uncertain he would propose such a bill to take away the rights of each voter in our county and state.
It is clear Republicans in our county state and throughout the country do not understand we cannot be successful unless all views are represented.
Frankly, this power grab should be investigated as all county executive should. Brooks has been fat to long!
“House Bill (HB) 5187 is yet another power grab by Republicans and more evidence of just how corrupt their party is.”
The Republican party is corrupt?
Must you be reminded that it was the chair of the Oakland DEMOCRATIC party that was convicted of voter fraud?
“The former chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Party was sentenced to 12 months of probation on six charges on Wednesday, Dec. 7, by Circuit Court Judge James Alexander, according to staff in the judge’s office.
Michael McGuinness pleaded no contest in October to three counts of uttering and publishing and three counts of falsely swearing on a legal document to register people to vote, all of which stemmed from the so-called “Tea Party” scandal, a scheme that reportedly was an attempt to divide the Republican electorate in close 2010 elections.
Jason Bauer, the former political director for the county’s Democratic Party, also pleaded no contest in November to similar charges that were brought forth earlier this year following county Prosecutor Jessica Cooper and Sheriff Michael Bouchard”
THANK GOD FOR BROOKS PATTERSON.
Crazy Townie – Yep, the Republican party is corrupt, and nowhere did I say that the Democratic party in Michigan is any better.
The way I look at it, it’s probably best to simply vote them ALL out of office and start fresh, provided that’s even possible these days.
Why vote out people who are doing great work?
This entire issue is about Oakland having too many commissioners. Are you telling me you have a problem with Republican efforts to reduce the size of government?
“Yep, the Republican party is corrupt, and nowhere did I say that the Democratic party in Michigan is any better.”
Do you have any data to substantiate your charges of corruption?
Great Work ha ha ha….
If you are a business…maybe…I see store fronts moving out, empty in my city…can’t keep them running…Why?
Running the county, state or country requires great work for the people as well as bussiness for without people you can establish and outsource as much business as you like but it will not change the climate in this state or country.
Ignoring and pulling power away from the people’s vote democratic and independents will see this majority fail.
Again without our communities thriving and the people’s quality of life improving neither will our state or any business plan. Working together with all points of view and really working to come to the best solution.
Take Education, Republicans have slashed and cut. What will be the long term result. More charter schools with just as little funding yet without a state or national agenda?
Wake up Oakland County and the State of Michigan !
Sorry Michelle but your rambling comment will lead most to believe that you have posted a reply to this story by error.
While it is clear that you feel aggrieved, it is unclear as to why.