You're right, it is impossible that gerrymandering was the case! The rules governing re-districting for the city of Minneapolis make gerrymandering impossible. Essentially, all wards must be as close to square or rectangular as possible! The Minneapolis Charter Commission appoints most of the members based on a specific formula in the Charter which requires that no one party can determine the new wards.
As for the charge that there was a "racial component" to insure that council members Johnson Lee and Samuels ended up in the same ward, the person(s) making that charge need to step forward and state their case so that it can be exposed for the malicious and baseless rumor that it is! Jim Bernstein Fulton Chair, Minneapolis Charter Commission -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Zach Coulter Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 4:59 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Mpls] RE: New 5th Ward election. . . Question. I have heard an idea perpetuated here and elsewhere that the new 3rd and 5th were gerrymandered in order to have Don Samuels and Natalie Johnson Lee run against each other and that there was a racial component to the motivation for doing so. Then I read CM Johnson-Lee say, "Redistricting happened before Don was ever elected" I'm not so concerned with what Don Samuels said or didn't say about where he would run for re-election (can I call it that?). I'm more concerned with the idea of gerrymandering for the purpose of having the only two black CM's run against each other. Because if what CM Johnson-Lee said is true it seems impossible that this was the case. Forgive me if I'm treading on well-worn territory here, it would just put my mind at ease to know the facts regarding this issue. Thanks! Zach Coulter Central "Tell all your friends!" Zach Coulter Realtor 612.924.7103 Direct 612.963.0248 Cell [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------- Yahoo! Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.8/37 - Release Date: 7/1/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.8/37 - Release Date: 7/1/2005 REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
