Initiative intends to file petition to establish an independent redistricting commission

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For Immediate Release
Monday, April 20, 2009
Fair Boundaries Coalition To File Initiative Petition
(Salt Lake City, Utah) – April 20, 2009– The Fair Boundaries Coalition, a nonpartisan
coalition of Utah citizens, including Republicans, Democrats, Independents and other party
affiliates, numerous civic organizations, and respected community leaders, intends to file an
initiative petition on May 6, 2009 with the Lieutenant Governor’s Office to create an
Independent Redistricting Commission. The coalition’s initiative language and ballot campaign
have been gaining steam since the end of the 2009 Legislative Session when bills, H.B. 172 and
S.B. 174, which were designed to reform the redistricting procedures were stalled in rules
committees in both houses.

The Governor pronounced on Thursday, April 16, 2009 that his government reform
commission, The Commission on Strengthening Utah’s Democracy, was suspending study of
legislative ethics and legislative redistricting—pursuant to legislative leadership’s request.
Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck, sponsor of H.B. 172, Advisory Redistricting
Committee, stated, “Knowing that improving voter participation is an area of concern for the
Governor, I had hoped that redistricting, in particular, would have been a priority study issue for
the Commission. And, while I recognize that the responsibility for redistricting is the purview of
the Legislature, having input from the Commission on this issue could have only helped as we
move toward refining a redistricting process for 2011.”

Attorney Lisa Watts Baskin, representing the Fair Boundaries Coalition, stated that the
Commission’s review and analysis could have provided invaluable insight and guidance to the
people and the legislature. “By no means was the Governor’s commission legislating or even
infringing upon legislative powers. Good governance permits and requires critical oversight by
the separate branches of government over one another’s conduct. Narrowing the scope of the
ethics commission study and eliminating legislative ethics issues and alleged redistricting abuses
only emboldens the resolve of citizens to take matters into their own hands.”

Nikki Norton, Campaign Coordinator for the Fair Boundaries Coalition, believes the
backpedaling by the Governor pursuant to GOP legislative leaders’ requests, will actually help
the coalition’s efforts to muster grass roots support and secure adequate funding. “It is irrational
that this important political debate has been relegated back to the legislative powers that be. It is
like the principal at an elementary school, informed about significant conflicts among the
children at recess, relinquishing her responsibilities and giving the playground back to the bullies
because ‘the kids need to learn how or should know how to govern themselves.’ As citizens, it is
our civic duty to oversee the legislature and act when our leaders abuse the process or fail to
fulfill their duties to the people. It is important that all Utahns have fair and honest representation
accountable to their needs.”

One of the initiative sponsors, a former Grantsville legislator and attorney Merrill Nelson
stated, “Allowing legislators to draw their own districts presents a clear conflict of interest,
leading to unfair results and disproportionate representation of the people. If the Legislature
refuses to correct this misallocation of power, then the people—the source of all government
power—have the right to do so.”

Representative Chavez-Houck added that she appreciates the legislature’s willingness to
listen to outsiders. “I am heartened that the Speaker is willing to invite citizen involvement in
some form or fashion and am anxious to see how that takes shape over the next couple of years.”

Every ten years, after the decennial census, the legislative, congressional and school
district districts are reconfigured based on new population numbers. If the redistricting reform
measures take hold, critics assert that it won’t take another decade before Randolph can be one
city again and Tooele County will have adequate representation.