Posted by Harald A. Bailey, a resident of another community, on Jul 24, 2011 at 8:28 am

Dear Editor,

This morning I received a message from a very thoughtful “Republican Woman” who reviewed the plan and proposal maps 1 through 17D. She is concerned that a majority of supervisors are trying to keep Republican voters concentrated in two districts so Republicans will always be a minority in CCC-BOS considerations and decisions. In her focus on Proposal Plans 15, 16, 17 and 17D, she could provide real evidence of Republican voter registration being nullified in all proposals’ Districts 1, 4 and 5 and various levels of Republican concentration in Districts’ 2 and 3.

Using voter registration information and voting results from the mid-term election, this author illustrated her claim that Republicans were being neutralized in the redistricting process. Now, this morning, Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Contra Costa Times, illustrates the same result being pursued at the state level where Republicans can claim and illustrate that the redistricting committee has become “partisan” and unbalanced in voters’ party preferences.

I do not consider myself part of any party and solely believe that all power rests with WE, the people. As I think about this author’s considerations and illustrations, I join her in concern that our Federal, State and County redistricting will severely unbalance politics in Contra Costa County and eliminate any need for Democratic Party candidates to consider service to WE, the people.

There is an exceptional story here for your journalism.

Hal, CDSI Research Fellowship