Since the MSM seems to think AZ Democrats have gone mute . . .

by David Safier

Damn, I've written lots of snarky posts lately! Maybe it's me, I don't know. But my sense is, there's lots to be snarky about these days.

Anyway . . . I've noted Howie Fischer's omission of any mention of a Democratic response to Adams and Pearce's attempts to bully their chosen nominees onto the Redistricting Commission list. Rep. Chad Campbell even spoke at yesterday's meeting, but it must have been at a register Fischer can't hear (New term: Dem whistles?)

There I go, being snarky again.

So, to even out the record a bit, here's an Update on Redistricting emailed out by Campbell.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to give a quick update on the Redistricting process.  As I’m sure most of you know, Senator Pearce and Speaker Adams had registered some complaints about the process with the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments (the panel responsible for forwarding the final 25 applicants to the legislature for Redistricting Commission selection).  Mainly, that the Commission hadn’t forwarded an adequate list of potential Redistricting Commission members to the legislature and that the decision making process had been tainted by anti-religious tones.   They also asked the Commission to remove three of the applicants from the list – two of them, both Republicans, who have since submitted resignations.

The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments met yesterday to discuss these accusations and requests.  After Senator Pearce and Speaker Adams testified, myself and many others (Lucia Howard, Paul Eckstein, former State Legislator Sue Gerard, and Lattie Coor…to name just a few) followed with testimony in support of the Commission’s work and decision.   The Commission then considered the requests of Senator Pearce and Speaker Adams in a formal and very engaging discussion.

I am happy to report that the Commission rebuffed the attempts of legislative interference on every count.  In fact, it wasn’t even close.  Only 4 members sided with Mr. Pearce and Mr. Adams on the issue of replacing the two Republican nominees, and nobody voted in favor of forcibly removing any of the remaining applicants from the final selection pool of 25.  What the commission decided instead to do was:

• Not remove any of the individuals that Republican Leadership was asking to be removed.
• Reject the resignations of the two Republican nominees and forward the original list to the legislature.
• Unanimously rejected any notion that anti-religious bias had played a role in any decision (many of the members, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, were greatly offended by this accusation).

So, yesterday was a huge victory for the voters of Arizona.   The Independent Redistricting Commission is called independent for a reason.  No legislator, Republican or Democrat, should interfere in the process of independently selecting the final 25 applicants.   That is why the process was created by the voters in the first place.

Many now expect a lawsuit to be filed from the Republican leadership, but for the time being the Redistricting process is moving forward as was designed.

Thanks and if you have any questions just let me know.   Hope everyone is having a great holiday!

Chad