TheReview_Sept_Oct_2021_FINAL

VOTING DISTRICTS DRAWN A NEWWAY BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE By Edward Woods III

E very 10 years, right after the U.S. Census Bureau’s population count, new boundaries are drawn in Michigan and other states for Congressional, state Senate, and state House voting districts. These districts decide which areas and groups of voters will be represented by the officials elected to office. Who Is the MICRC? The new Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) oversees the process of redefining voting boundaries on behalf of the voters. The MICRC draws district lines for the Michigan House, Michigan Senate, and for the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan. The MICRC is the only entity authorized to draw and adopt redistricting plans for the state of Michigan. Randomly selected from over 9,000 applicants, the MICRC is comprised of 13 citizens from across the state of Michigan. They include four people who affiliate with the Democratic party, five who do not affiliate with either major party, and four who affiliate with the Republican party. The members of the inaugural MICRC are:

• Douglas Clark, retired operations and development manager • Juanita Curry, retired specialized foster care worker • Anthony Eid, medical student • Rhonda Lange, real estate broker • Steven Lett, semi-retired lawyer • Brittni Kellom, entrepreneur and trauma practitioner • Cynthia Orton, college student • M.C. Rothhorn, financial cooperator • Rebecca Szetela, lawyer • Janice Vallette, retired banker • Erin Wagner, household engineer • Richard Weiss, retired auto worker and handyman • Dustin Witjes, payroll specialist The inaugural MICRC staff includes Executive Director Suann Hammersmith, General Counsel Julianne Pastula, and Communications and Outreach Director Edward Woods III.

14 THE REVIEW

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021