[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2011/1...1d515495482.txt

La Porte Commissioners consider redistricting

By Brianne Eichman
For The News Dispatch
Published: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 5:07 PM CST
LA PORTE — Circuit Court Clerk Lynne Spevak is hoping the proposed ordinance detailing changes to the La Porte County Commissioners and County Council district lines will come before the commissioners at their meeting tonight and be approved.

"Then at least we can start the process off to get those areas switched with the state and then we would have until (Dec.) 20 to get the population and district areas of the county council and county commissioners," said Spevak.

If the proposed ordinance is approved, any additions will be brought to the county commissioners as a separate ordinance to their meeting Dec. 20.

A public meeting was held Thursday to discuss the redistricting of the La Porte County Commissioners and County Council district lines.

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Proposed changes were made from the first redistricting meeting, identifying some of the town splits and precinct changes.

Changes were drawn up based on the 2010 population census, and those who participated in the meeting said the New Durham Township and Westville areas were growing the most, as its numbers jumped significantly.

It was noted that the population information needed confirmation, as they did not have full data, and population includes every age group, not just the voters.

Those participating in redistricting will also meet Friday to set the population numbers against the voter registration numbers to see what they are dealing with, and to add any additions to the proposed ordinance for the commissioner's meeting Dec. 20.

Redistricting must be completed by Dec. 31.

"If we don't do this from last year's census, we have to wait 10 years," said Spevak.

[Southsider2k12]

http://heraldargus.com/articles/2011/12/10...57205839502.txt

Public input about county voting districts sought

By Matt Fritz
Staff writer
1-866-362-2167 Ext. 13887
mfritz@heraldargus.com
Published: Saturday, December 10, 2011 5:05 PM CST
La PORTE — County officials are proposing some changes to voting districts in La Porte County in an effort to more evenly distribute populations among different county council and commissioner seats.

And to improve the voting fairness in the county.

Now they're looking for more public input.

During a redistricting meeting Friday afternoon, members of the county council, commissioners and Democrat and Republican political parties, with the county clerk, proposed to increase the districts held by Councilman Earl Cunningham and Commissioner Willie Milsap.

Both districts were significantly lower in population than other districts in the area.

For Cunningham, who has District 2, they decided to add all the precincts of Center Township, excluding the city of La Porte. This would decrease county council District 1 (which is currently at a population of 31,000) to 28,593, while increasing District 2 (which currently has a population of about 25,000) to 29,000.

For the commissioners, it was decided to give Springfield Township Precinct 1 to District 1 (which belongs to Milsap now), while taking away the Michigan City city precincts in Coolspring Township and moving them to District 3 (which belongs to Commissioner Ken Layton now).

This would help fill the nearly 5,000-person difference in population between the two districts. Milsap's district (comprising Michigan City) only has a population of 34,529, while Layton's has 39,132.

A follow-up meeting will be help on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the County Complex Assembly room to see if there are any more changes to be made. Afterward, the proposals will be taken to the county commissioners for approval.

"The changes are very minimal," said County Clerk Lynne Spevak. "We're not changing big district areas at all."

But she pointed out that this was still important because it makes voting power more equal among the districts. As she explained it, if someone has 6,000 more people in his district than a rival, it could give him or her some advantage when it comes time to vote.