Arizona Republicans Remove Independent Redistricting Chairman

WASHINGTON -- The Republican-controlled Arizona State Senate voted along party lines on Tuesday evening to remove the chair of the state Independent Redistricting Commission, setting up legal challenges and throwing Arizona's redistricting process into disarray.

Tensions rose last week when Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) sent a letter to the chair, Colleen Mathis, who is the lone independent on the five-person panel. She accused the commission of "gross misconduct" in redrawing the lines and warned it about elevating "competitiveness" over geographically compact and contiguous districts.

Even though Mathis is a registered independent, Republicans have accused her of being too partisan and being too secretive about commission business.

"It's a sad day for Arizona," said Paul Charlton, Mathis' attorney. "There has been no meaningful opportunity for Colleen to tell her version of events. This was just an opportunity for Republicans to take over this process."

Arizona picked up one seat in Congress following the 2010 Census, giving it nine congressional districts. The commission drew a map in which four districts are heavily Republican, two are heavily Democratic, and three are competitive. Currently, there are five Republicans and three Democrats in Arizona's congressional delegation.

Prior to last night's vote, commission attorney Mary O'Grady attempted to appeal to the state Supreme Court to block the Senate's action, but the vote was completed before any action could take place.

Due to the vote and subsequent legal challenge, there are now conflicting views as to what the fate of Mathis is.

"It's my view that she is most certainly still the chairman," said Charlton.

However, in a letter to Mathis, Secretary of State Ken Bennett (R), acting on behalf of Brewer, wrote, "I hereby remove you as the fifth member of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission and as its Chair. This removal will be effective immediately upon concurrence of two-thirds of the Arizona Senate."

Bennett had to send the letter to Mathis as he is acting governor of the state with Brewer in New York promoting her new book.

Arizona Democrats immediately decried the decision.

"What we have here is a witch hunt ... with a predetermined outcome," said Senate Minority Leader David Schapira (D).

Additionally, the Arizona Democratic Party has said that it will work to recall four Republican Arizona state senators who represent moderate, urban and suburban districts: Rich Crandall of Mesa, Adam Driggs of Phoenix, John McComish of Phoenix, and Michele Reagan of Scottsdale.

Comments

[TimFredrickson]

11:09 PM on 11/03/2011

Republicans have become like the political mafia of the nation. They can't play fair or with any ethical consideration that their ideas should be on what they are judged. They have truly become the party that just wants to be in charge. There seems to be a sense of entitlement with today's Republicans so they feel entitled to use whatever means. Deception and thugery are more valid to them than winning elections based on ideas and philosophy. This way they can prove to the rest of us that they really are the boss (of all of us).

[Helloise]

09:54 PM on 11/03/2011

Even when the odds are in their favor, the right simply cannot countenance a fair fight.

[SirReal1]

01:15 PM on 11/03/2011

This will not go unchallenged!

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/d9b11510-33bb-59d5-a764-4ea5ab72edf4.html

[sdtrueman]

12:51 PM on 11/03/2011

AZ = the wild, wild, west where if your politics are remotely to the left of Attila the Hun, you won't get representation in DC.

[Rhondayes]

10:39 AM on 11/03/2011

Is there a way to undo what was done in Arizona? There must be a quick fix to get these people attention so that they know their dirty politics will no longer be tolerated by the populace.

[GodBlessAmerica]

10:38 AM on 11/03/2011

Brewer's concerns were not out of left field. I read the letter, and it's reasonable and worth serious consideration.

But as is customary of elected Republicans, she immediately went way way overboard into nonsense. Impeaching one person for what a committee does in their official role? That's bizarre, and using impeachment for things beyond "poor behavior" or "high crimes and misdemeanors" seems nonsensical and wrong. Oh, and the last major issue - the final report hasn't been promulgated yet! You're impeaching someone for something that is not yet done! That flies in the face of all American values.

[Bettaman]

04:19 AM on 11/03/2011

Here in Florida, our recently passed no-jerrymandering amendment which was voted for by more than 70% of the population is under attack by Repubs wanting to go back to stacking the deck in their own favor. Repubs are simply the slimiest, most vile people on the planet, bar none.

[LSP]

06:42 PM on 11/03/2011

Republicans play to win. And there are no rules. The only way to beat them is to vote them out.

[MaryfromIL]

11:53 PM on 11/02/2011

Sometimes it just has to be said. I hate GOP politicians.

Way to go, recall elections!

[ClavisRa]

11:28 PM on 11/02/2011

This is why we have to get rid of voting districts entirely. Stop letting political parties divide and conquer us by deciding their own political districts. Voting districts are a relic of horse and buggy days. Why should people have to compete with their neighbors over federal representation?

We can give people the power to delegate their vote to the representative of their choosing with modern technology. Let each person choose who can best represent their views and values.Let people have real choice, and know that choice matters.

Then politicians would never have the luxury of not being accountable to the people they represent. Because, if you feel someone else would represent you better, you would just select them instead. No need to wait for an election date.

Direct representation, choosing your House delegate directly instead of by a voting competition, would empower citizens, and strike a blow against the control of political parties and big money.

[giftsthatpurr]

09:59 PM on 11/02/2011

The GOP keeps going over the line. It isn't just in Arizona. They will do ANYTHING to oust our POTUS, no matter how hateful, immoral or even illegal. If they take the power of the Pres., and the Senate, this country will never recover. No matter how they stack the deck with the electoral college, we must make a concerted effort to get everyone who cares about this country's future to the polls. I have seen many elections in my lifetime, but this one is the most important I will ever see.

[azinv]

09:27 PM on 11/02/2011

It is a poorly written article. I'm not sure what is going on. But the Republicans should take the same stance that Obama did in his negotiations, He said, "I won"

[Rhondayes]

09:42 AM on 11/03/2011

What a small thing to remember. It must have cut deep. LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[azinv]

10:48 AM on 11/03/2011

Right, I'm mortally wounded. But keep in mind, it did set the tone for cooperation. So when the opposition wins..don't b*tch.LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[elgeezr]

08:52 PM on 11/02/2011

I don't know what to think about this. There really isn't enough information in the article to form an opinion. On the surface it appears as if my party, the Republicans, are attempting to interfere with what should be an apolitical process. I hope it's not true as I would be very disappointed.

On the other hand if she genuinely was trying to skew the process to favor Dems, that would also be bad. And I would still be disappointed. All I can say is I hope we can get a few more facts.

[centsable]

08:59 PM on 11/02/2011

The nine districts are broken down like this, according to the article...4 heavy repub, 2 heavy dem and 3 competitive. With this information, your second sentence should apply. This needs a court's interjection and soon.

[James Loncaric]

03:25 AM on 11/03/2011

The courts aren't much better.

[SirReal1]

01:03 PM on 11/03/2011

Be prepared to be disappointed then.

The voters of Arizona passed an initiative in 2000, that required the structure of the commission to be "bi-partisan" and required the Chair of the Commission to be an "Independent". The "draft" proposal that was ultimately submitted for Public Comment proposed redistricting that was "favorable" to Republicans (according to independent review). Governor Brewer and the Republican Majority Legislature felt it wasn't "favorable enough" which resulted in the Impeachment.

The Republican Majority in Arizona is making a clear statement. They are not concerned with the "will of the people" of Arizona, they are concerned with insuring that THEY STAY IN POWER.

[FanOfDemocracy]

07:51 PM on 11/02/2011

"By any means necessary" is becoming the norm for Arizona GOPers. AZ State Senator Russ Pearce got thrown up for a recall this year so his campaign introduced a shill candidate to dilute the votes for his nearest competitor, trying to ensure that Pearce would win in the chaos. Today they decide they don't like how the redistricting maps are turning out so just fire the chairman? For awhile the state senate was just passing bills it would seems to incite hostile responses, as if to thumb their nose and do things just to prove they have the power rather than work on constructive resolutions. They have no concept of the meaning of comeuppance... yet.

[Veganie]

07:37 PM on 11/02/2011

It is about time to restart the impeachment process against her

[pindiva]

04:14 AM on 11/03/2011

Which her? Mathis or Brewer?

[SkeeBee]

07:11 PM on 11/02/2011

Since I've been a small kid, I've SORELY detested hypocrites.
So disgusting these Repugnicans are disenfranchising non-Repugnican voters all over the country yet when they're not calling those same shots, they go hardcore.