Salt Lake County Council establishes redistricting committee

SALT LAKE CITY — Using census data to redraw district boundaries in a fair and honest manner is the goal of the Salt Lake County Council.

The council on Tuesday approved creating a redistricting committee that will consist of three Republicans, three Democrats and one independent.

"We want to have a balance," said council chairman Joe Hatch.

The committee will be tasked with redrawing the district boundaries once the census data is available in early 2011. The redistricting has to be completed for the 2012 election.

The county council districts must be realigned every 10 years. The work was last done in 2001. The new census will have new population figures. Every district needs to have approximately the same number of people in it.

The council is taking applications for volunteers to serve on the committee. Call 801-468-2930 for more information.

— Amy K. Stewart