Today, May 24, McLean County Chairman John McIntyre will announce the names of the members of a bipartisan ad hoc committee charged with the “fair maps” redistricting process of drawing three different electoral district maps, providing the county board with fair representation options in the state’s legislative body.
“Red, White & Blue” advisory panel
The advisory panel members alone will draw up three mapping options by the end of June, making them available for a public hearing in early July. McIntyre said it is pertinent the county keep public records on how panel members decided upon the three mapping options.
The decision to utilize three public advisory panels to draw mapping options came after a combative first-step process of determining the number of county districts and the number of board members elected to represent each district.
“They meet behind closed doors in a non-transparent manner in what is jokingly referred to as ‘the secret room’ by lawmakers, and draw up maps for fellow lawmakers to vote on, with little or no input from the party with lesser power,” said McIntyre. “Every 10 years we are promised ‘fair’ maps by lawmakers in power, but arguably, none of the mapping options that come up for a vote are actually fair. And the process is never transparent,” he added. “McLean County aims to change that.”
To ensure fairness, panel members have been chosen with the assistance of two board members: Elizabeth Johnston, a Democrat; and Jim Soeldner, a Republican.
Since the 2020 census data is expected to be delayed due to the pandemic, McIntyre said it must first be decided which census data will be used to draw the maps.
Historically, the McLean County Board has been comprised primarily of Republicans, who currently have an 11-9 advantage.
This is not the first time the McLean County Board has utilized a public advisory committee to ensure a fair process.
Two recent “Blue Ribbon” committees selected by McIntyre: one to conduct a national search for a County Administrator; and another to advise staff on the county’s only nursing home.
McIntyre is calling the map-drawing panels the “Red, White and Blue Ribbon” committee to reflect the non-political make up of an equal number of community leaders who represent pivotal areas of the county, such as: diverse populations, commercial businesses, agriculture, judiciary, universities and social services.
“No secret room. No closed doors. No unrecorded conversations on the taxpayers’ dime,” said McIntyre. “This process takes the power away from elected board members to draw map boundaries. I have found no evidence that a process this fair has ever occurred in Illinois. It’s time to change that, and McLean County is leading the way.”
After considering the public’s input, the three mapping options will be made available to county board members for one week before they vote to adopt one of the three mapping options on July 15.
The County Administrator’s office will initially be informing the board members of the names of members of three map drawing committees.
Retired former chief judges, Hon. Beth Robb, Hon. Kevin Fitzgerald and Hon. John Freese of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court system will be heading up each respective panel with eight members on each panel
