Associated Student Government plans to keep an eye on a proposalto revise Evanston ward boundaries that ASG says might dampenon-campus students’ political influence in the city.
Aldermen will soon consider a redistricting proposal that wouldbalance the population of the wards before the next aldermanicelection in 2005. But Jane Lee, ASG’s external relationschairwoman, said ASG was told a preliminary map prepared by a groupof aldermen would divide Northwestern’s campus among three wards.NU now resides in two areas: the First and the Seventh wards.
Lee said she is concerned that dividing the university woulddilute students’ political power as a voting bloc.
“We’re already separated into two wards,” Lee said. “Furthersegregating us into three could really disenfranchise the studentbody.”
But Lee said it’s possible the plan could also benefit students,as three aldermen would have to consider their concerns. She saidASG will further study the issue before deciding what it thinks thealdermen should do.
Mark Franz, assistant to the city manager, said some aldermenhave drawn up a proposal for boundary changes that will bepresented at a Rules Committee meeting at 6 p.m. on June 2 at theEvanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave. Once the Rules Committeedrafts a map, it must be presented at a public hearing. Then themap would face a vote by Evanston City Council.
But Lee said she and ASG will ask the aldermen to delay theirdeliberations until students return in the fall and will have timeto learn about the issue. A bill calling for the issue is slated tobe discussed at tonight’s ASG Senate meeting.
“Any Evanston resident should have the ability to have his orher voice matter,” Lee said. “When students — who are Evanstonresidents — are not there for redistricting, that puts our voicesand positions at a disadvantage.”
Federal Law stipulates that redistricting must be completed atleast 30 days before candidates can file for the next aldermanicelection. In Evanston, that would make the due date some time inAugust 2004.
Municipalities are required to revise district boundaries inorder to give every vote equal value. No ward may deviate too farfrom the average population. As a result, redistricting usuallyoccurs every 10 years in response to new census information. Thecity also is required to consider the balance of political partiesand minority groups when redrawing the maps.
The 2000 census showed that the First, Fourth and Seventh wardsare overpopulated. The data showed the Second, Fifth and Ninth havetoo few voters. That means the borders of these wards must change;the others can remain more or less the same.
The First Ward is the most overpopulated and will probablyexperience the greatest change. Ald. Arthur Newman (1st)acknowledged that a change to his ward would affect students.
“I would say that there’s going to be some shift of students,”Newman said. “There’s going to be a shift of all types ofpeople.”
Although the process legally could wait until classes begins,some aldermen have said they hope the process can be completedquickly so potential candidates will know which ward they willreside in at election time.
But Ald. Edmund Moran (6th) said he thought the process wasbeing rushed and wants to make sure the public has sufficient timeto review the plan.
“There’s not going to be a whole lot of transparency in it,” hesaid.
