SALT LAKE CITY — Three Top of Utah lawmakers were among thos chosen to Utah's Redistricting Committe, announced today by the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate.
House members on the committee will include:
* Chairman Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork
* Rep. Curt Webb, R-Logan
* Rep. Gage Froerer, R-Huntsville
* Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville
* Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City
* Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City
* Rep. Todd Kiser, R-Sandy
* Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan
* Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville
* Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo
* Rep. Francis Gibson, R-Spanish Fork
* Rep. Christine Watkins, D-Price
* Rep. Don Ipson, R-St. George
Senate members on the committee will include:
* Chairman Senator Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe
* Senator Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City
* Senator Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City
* Senator Stuart Reid, R-Ogden
* Senator Kevin Van Tassell, R-Vernal
* President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville
The committee will start work this month. They will begin drawing maps and hosting public hearings throughout the state in the months that follow. The Governor is expected to call a special session in late summer or fall to allow the full Legislature to consider the new state maps.
The redistricting committee will draw boundaries for the State Board of Education, Utah House of Representatives, Utah State Senate, and the Utah congressional delegation, which now includes — 10 years late — a fourth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the last decade, Utah’s population grew from 2,233,169 to 2,763,885. In 2001 the ideal population of a Utah House District was 29,776 (total population divided by 75). The ideal population of a senate district was 77,006 (total population divided by 29). To adhere to the principle of equal representation and given the new population numbers, the boundaries now need to be adjusted so house districts include 36,852 people and senate districts include 95,306.
The public is encouraged to get involved in the process by participating in public hearings and using online technology – soon to be available on the legislative website – that wasn’t widely available a decade ago. Interested citizens will be able to listen in, work on their own map proposals, and track the progress of the committee’s work at www.le.utah.gov.
Comments