Former Councilman Forwards Letter Critical of Redistricting

Editor's note: The following letter was sent from former Ward 4 and at-large councilman Michael Stanek to Council President Greg Zilka before the redistricting ad-hoc committee.

Members of Ad Hoc Committee and Members of Council:

I’m writing in regard to the proposed ward redistricting for the city of Avon Lake. I am hoping to attend the ad hoc committee meeting on Saturday morning but am not sure I will be able to make it and I wanted to get my thoughts to you. The purpose of my writing about this issue is twofold:

1. A personal distaste for the highly political redistricting that takes place in many governmental entities, and
2. On behalf of a neighbor, which will become clearer shortly.

I was very proud of the way council and the city approached the redistricting issue originally. Having ward lines drawn blindly by an individual who possessed the household counts necessary to perform the task was perfect. This contrasted sharply with the politically charged redistricting that takes place at the state level and within many cities, particularly large cities. The political posturing and horse trading that takes place within those governmental districts is part of what gives many, if not most, citizens a horrible distaste for “politics”. No, Avon Lake was above that, having done a blind redrawing that dutifully met all the requirements for equal wards.

That’s where the story should have ended. And would have ended, in fact, as there was absolutely nothing wrong with the wards as redrawn, other than one small issue:  a current member of council would be moved to a different ward. Except for this fact the plan as presented would have been passed unanimously by council and the redistricting would have been completed. But now, for this one reason only, council is considering gerrymandering the new wards so as to protect a sitting member of council. I find the reconsideration of the original redisctricting plan on this basis both distasteful and offensive.

Further complicating this scenario, and increasing my disdain for the action, is that council is apparently attempting to project who the winner of a yet-to-be-held election might be and rationalizing that an “elected versus appointed” conflict caused by the current wording of our charter would be avoided. Attempting to prognosticate the results of future elections would not only be irresponsible, but is in direct conflict with the spirit and intent of the unbiased drawing of equal-sized wards.

This latter issue also dovetails into my second reason for writing. A neighbor of mine is seriously considering a run for the ward 4 council seat this fall. As she has not made a final decision she is not yet ready to put her name in the public limelight. However, should she decide to run for the seat, the alternate plan for a gerrymandered ward would put her in the exact same position which council is purportedly looking to avoid:  she would be redistricted into ward 3 and have to give up her seat after six months. The answer to the question of whether or not it is just to purposely choose to burden one person over another is obvious.

Under any scenario the possibility that a person elected to ward office this fall could find themselves in a new ward after six months comes into play. When that happens due to an unbiased redistricting it’s an unfortunate part of the process. When it happens due to a consciously gerrymandered redistricting it’s just plain wrong. This is not Cuyahoga County. Avon Lake and its citizens have always held themselves to the highest standards. Choosing to proceed with the original, unbiased redraw will maintain those high standards and keep “politics” out of the redistricting process.

Sincerely,

Michael E. Stanek