SALT LAKE CITY -- Utahns have until Oct. 17 to view and comment on a number of proposed congressional district maps.
Then lawmakers will meet again as part of the special session called by the governor to decide how to divide the state into four congressional districts. Utah's population has increased enough that it now has one more seat in Congress.
The legislative Redistricting Committee met Friday to discuss eight more proposals, one of which was submitted by Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville.
Gov. Gary Herbert called for a special session for lawmakers to vote on the redistricting maps, which included the state House and Senate, the State Board of Education and the congressional maps.
Lawmakers have agreed on the three state office maps but are still at odds over the congressional map.
The special session ends Nov. 2. If lawmakers haven't decided by then how to divide the state, the governor can call another special session, or the task will be one lawmakers will tackle when they convene for the 60th Legislative General Session in January.
Froerer's proposal changes a few boundaries on the map that has already been approved by the state Senate and is now waiting for House members' approval.
"It keeps Salt Lake City whole, although it does split Salt Lake County four ways," Froerer said.
But it also splits Davis County near the Farmington line and puts Morgan County into District 1 with Weber, Box Elder and north Davis counties.
The south part of Davis County ends up in District 2 with Tooele County.
Froerer, who is a member of the redistricting committee, said he had help from Sen. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, in drawing the new lines.
Majority Leader Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, attended Friday's meeting and said there are several maps out of the dozens submitted that he likes because they "address the needs of Weber and Davis counties."
He plans to review the maps, especially the one Froerer submitted.
"I like what he has done," Dee said.
He said that map keeps Davis County "relevant in two major districts."
Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville, a member of the committee, said he does not have a favorite map, but hopes "whichever one surfaces to the top reflects the relevance Davis County will have on any congressional election."
Brett Garner, chairman of the Davis County Democratic Party, spoke during Friday's meeting.
"I don't feel like Davis County should be divided," he said.
Barrus said Davis County is the third-largest-populated county in the state and it would be difficult to keep it in one district.
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