Few drawn to redistricting hearings

PROVO — Republican state lawmakers agreed early Monday to include a Democrat-drafted redistricting plan in six public hearings Monday and today, but the public is paying little attention.

In all, the committee will travel about 1,000 miles around the state seeking input from Utahns, who appear disinterested in four proposed plans to carve up the state into four congressional districts.

Only two people commented during the public hearing in Provo, the first of three sparsely attended, far-flung hearings Monday that included stops in Price and St. George.

Three additional public hearings will be held today in Park City, Ogden and Salt Lake City.

"I was pleased to see the turnout of City Council and former City Council members and legislative district chairs," committee co-chairman Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said of the Provo hearing, held in the City Council Chambers. "There was one average citizen, but there were people elected to represent people. I wish they would have weighed in during public comment."

As many as 20 Utahns attended the Price hearing, which Bramble characterized as a robust discussion.

The committee's unanimous decision to include the Democrats' plan was an about-face from the position a week ago, when the Republican-dominated committee rejected it. The committee reversed course at the start of the morning hearing Provo after Democrats successfully lobbied co-chairmen Bramble and Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara.

The three other Republican-approved plans — labeled A, J and I — divide the state so that all four congressmen would represent a mixture of rural and urban areas. The plan drafted by the Democrats — amended on Monday and dubbed Plan G.1 — would have rural-urban mixes in two districts, an urban district in Salt Lake County and a 4th District devoted solely to rural counties.

"With Plan G.1, we really have a sharp contrast that gets us to the debate of whether every district should be mixed or if we should have a rural district," said state Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake. "I have heard from some in rural areas who have felt they'd be better served by someone really interested in agricultural issues and in trying to get on those congressional committees."

Provo College nursing student Brent Waldrop, who lives in Springville, told the committee he supported Plan G.1 because it would provide a rural district.

Congress is considering awarding Utah a fourth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to offset a proposal to give Washington, D.C., a voting seat in the House. The District of Columbia seat would most likely be won by a Democrat and the new Utah seat would likely go Republican.