Citizens Redistricting Commission seeking community input

Draw the Line Minnesota has announced the creation of a Minnesota Citizens Redistricting Commission that will be creating maps to share with Minnesota’s judicial redistricting panel. The Commission will be taking citizen input and testimony in locations across Minnesota during the month of August. Northfield is hosting the 2nd Congressional District’s hearing on Thursday, August 11, 2011, at 7 pm at the Northfield Senior Center (there will be a Spanish language interpreter present at the hearing). Citizens across the 2nd District are invited to participate as the 15-member multi-partisan and non-partisan group gathers input.

Draw the Line Minnesota is a joint project of the League of Women Voters Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Non-profits, the Midwest Democracy Network, and other partners who are committed to a high level of accountability and complete transparency. In the vital democratic process of redistricting, responsible citizen engagement is paramount. The Commission states that it is committed to listening to all viewpoints and drawing maps with integrity.

The League of Women Voters of Northfield and Cannon Falls (LWVNCF) is hosting the meeting next Thursday at the Northfield Senior Center and they are hoping for a great turnout as citizens are provided the opportunity testify before the Commission. Even if you are not interested in testifying, you may want to attend to watch the democratic process in action. LWVNCF is proud to announce that their local board member, Karen Saxe, has been appointed to the 15-member Commission. Karen resides in Northfield with her family and she is the Chair of the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science at Macalester College in St. Paul.