Redistricting: Not Rocket Science… More like an advanced law degree

Today Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, led a workshop allowing reporters and editorial staff from the papers to give redistricting a shot.

In mid-February, Ellen Freidin, chairman of FairDistricts Florida, told law makers lines could be drawn that would avoid giving incumbents and political parties an advantage, and also avoid hurting minority representation. Its not rocket science, she said, but failed to give specific answers on exactly how to do it.

Today, Haridopolos commented that a lot of reporters and editorial staff had weighed in complaining about Fair Districts, so they basically opened it up to those making the complaints and said, to paraphrase, OK, smarty-pants, you give it a try.

In 2002, Haridopolos was involved in the last redistricting effort, and says they knew the rules, followed them, and the federal courts approved their changes. It was then that minorities were represented by a district for the first time.

Haridopolos is of the mindset, if it aint broke, dont fix it, but since its required to be addressed every 10 years, he says theyre going to do the best they can to make sure its still fair.