The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission composed of 2 Democrats (Jose Herrera, Linda McNulty), 2 Republicans (Scott Freeman, Rick Stertz), 1 Independent (Colleen Mathis) have been meeting & holding public hearings on proposed Congressional/legislative maps for Arizona since this Spring.

The Commission & their staff recently drew up 2 preliminary draft maps of 30 new legislative districts and 9 Congressional districts for the public to consider & comment on. (Arizona has an additional seat in Congress due to increase in population based on the 2010 Census).

These draft maps are now online at ther website: http://www.azredistricting.org/Maps/Draft-Maps.asp

And the 2nd round of public hearings have begun. The first round of public hearings in the summer were well attended and many individuals & groups provided feedback to the Commission on how the maps should be drawn. Factors to consider in drawing up districts are equal population, existing geographic & political lines, compactness & contiguousness, competitiveness, communities of interest.

Plan on attending these Southern Arizona hearings:

Monday, October 24, 2011
City of Tucson 6:00 p.m.
University of Arizona
Student Union Memorial Center
North Ballroom
1303 E. University Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85721

Friday, November 4, 2011
Town of Marana 6:00 p.m.
Town of Marana
Marana Municipal Complex
Auditorium
11555 W. Civic Center Drive
Marana, AZ 85653

Saturday, November 5, 2011
Town of Green Valley 10:00 a.m.
Desert Hills Social Center
Desert Hills Auditorium
2980 S. Camino del Sol
Green Valley, AZ 85622

Online comments are welcome at www.azredistricting.org or click here for the public input form.

My previous blog on this redistricting issue (click here). KUAT’s “Arizona Week” host Michael Chihak interviewed Democrat & Republican leaders on the draft maps on October 14 (click here).