The 13-member Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is looking for a replacement again, as Van Buren Township’s Glenn Shaw has resigned.
Shaw, 71, was selected at random to join the commission in September to fill the spot of James Decker, who resigned. There will be a random selection from the pool of semifinalists to fill the position at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The commission is result of a 2018 proposal passed by Michigan voters, creating a group to redraw Michigan’s state and federal electoral boundaries fairly.
Previously, the Legislature handled this task – allowing the party in power to gerrymander the lines. By grouping together clumps of voters from the opposite party in some districts, the party in power could create more districts that lean toward their party.
The commission always includes four Democrats, four Republicans and five people unaffiliated with either party. Shaw was unaffiliated with either party – so his replacement must not be affiliated, either.
Shaw submitted a letter of resignation last weekend, saying he didn’t think he could continue on the commission due to “changes in personal circumstances.”
The redrawing process to replace commissioners is set by the Michigan Constitution. Rehmann LLC, the independent accounting firm chosen to lead the drawings, will conduct Wednesday’s random drawing. It will be livestreamed on Michigan Department of State social media accounts.
More than 9,000 people applied to be part of the commission earlier this year.
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