The Ohio House Democratic leader joined local politicians in saying the state’s newly drawn congressional districts do not best serve people in Ohio.
Armond Budish (D-8), the minority leader of the Ohio House, called out Republican leaders for unfairly cutting up the state’s districts after criticizing Democratic leaders for drawing similar district lines six years ago.
"In 2005, Republican leaders said that districts that 'snake' from one end of the state to the other do not serve the interest of Ohio voters, yet that is exactly what they are creating in their new congressional districts,” said Budish in a news release.
Kevin DeWine, a state representative in 2005 and current Ohio Republican Party chairman, criticized proposed redistricting in 2005 and released a map to demonstrate the possible effects of the legislation. The map is very similar to the district lines that passed the House in House Bill 319 last Thursday.
"The map that DeWine and Republicans devised six years ago to scare voters has a remarkable resemblance to the new redistricting map Republicans have produced,” Budish said. “It carves up communities and snakes districts all across the state, allowing politicians to choose their voters."
Athens County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Bias, Athens County Republican Party Chairman Pete Couladis and Debbie Phillips (D-92) said the new districts will hurt the county.
“It’s pretty apparent: Redistricting was done to negate the influence of democratic-leaning Athens County voters,” Bias said last week. “On the Republican side, it’s ‘mission accomplished.’ ”
If the House Bill passes through the Ohio Senate, Athens County would be split between two congressional districts. The majority of the county, including the City of Athens, would join the 18th district while Carthage and Troy Townships would remain in the 6th.
“I would have preferred to have the county intact and not so scattered around,” Couladis said last week. “I’m hoping it will be in one district as much as possible.”
A map of the proposed districts in HB 319 can be seen here.
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