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Politicians with an eye on higher office are energizing the debate over how the state draws legislative boundaries, long manipulated by the party that controls Columbus.
Two proposals by Republicans emerged last week, adding to an ongoing push for change from Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
Republican State Sen. Kevin Coughlin, of Cuyahoga Falls, who has announced a bid for governor, and State Sen. Gary Cates, of West Chester, introduced a resolution Tuesday to increase the size of the State Apportionment Board, which redraws state legislative districts every 10 years after the Census.
The board, composed of the governor, secretary of state, auditor and two legislative members, typically is controlled by the party that holds two of the three statewide executive offices.
Historically, that party has drawn the districts to favor its candidates in the election. Currently, Democrats hold the edge, with Brunner and Gov. Ted Strickland, while Auditor Mary Taylor is a Republican. However, all of those positions are up for election next year.
Coughlin and Cates want to add two board members from the legislature and require that five of the seven Apportionment Board members approve changes to Ohio House and Senate districts. They argue that a larger board would be harder to dominate and force more compromise, though the new structure won't eliminate the possibility that one party could control it outright.
Fellow Republican Jon Husted of Kettering readied his own proposal after meeting last week with representatives from statewide offices and an array of reform advocates, including Ohio Citizen Action, the League of Women Voters and Common Cause.
Husted, who is considering a run for secretary of state, said his proposal will likely rely on a seven-member redistricting commission. Each party would pick two members from the legislature and those members would have to agree on the final three members.
Husted said his proposal will be introduced this week. It would require the commission to follow strict guidelines for redrawing districts based on fairness, competitiveness, compactness, and areas of interest within each district.
Any proposal supported by the legislature would still require approval of Ohio voters because the state Constitution dictates the makeup of the Apportionment Board.
"I have no delusions that my plan is going to be perfect, nor will it on its own have the broad base of support it needs to amend the Constitution," Husted said. "I hope I can bring more people on board."
Husted's proposal will also influence congressional districts, which are done by state lawmakers and not by the Apportionment Board.
Brunner, who has launched a campaign to win public support for reforming how all political boundaries are drawn, has not committed to a plan.
On Friday, she and voter advocates announced details of the "Ohio Redistricting Competition," which seeks proposals on how to redraw districts.
Brunner, who is running for the U.S. Senate, is the most controversial supporter of changing the Apportionment Board because some Democratic leaders want her to seek re-election and help the party control the board in 2010.
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