I’m your constituent. I live in Ephraim. I am writing to protest the House of Representatives proposed gerrymandering of the Utah congressional Districts by splitting Salt Lake City into all four congressional districts and again combining our rural communities with urban communities, meaning that the needs of Ephraim, Sanpete County, and all the rural districts will again be overlooked by federal legislators concerned primarily with pleasing the more populous urban areas.
It seems to me that state legislators are ignoring the will of the people, who overwhelmingly passed a referendum to establish an independent redistricting commission to make recommendations for the districts of this next 10-year cycle.
The Independent Redistricting Commission did an excellent job creating fair districts that don’t split communities and allow all the citizens of the state to be represented in the districts where they live.
What I value most is the Independent Commission’s criteria in creating the maps— especially that the maps are required to minimize the splitting of cities, counties and communities of interest. I also value their transparent process and ability to work cohesively without a political agenda.
In 2018, more than 190,000 signatures put Proposition 4 on the ballot. Then a majority of voters made it law. I urge you to honor the will of the people and adopt the independent commission’s maps and ensure we have a transparent process.
If you support the Legislature’s proposal rather than the independent commission’s proposal, the will of the people obviously means nothing to you. And if the will of the people means nothing to you, you shouldn’t be our legislators.
I urge you not to vote for the gerrymandered districts and to support the Independent Redistricting Commission’s plan.
Susan Howe Young
Ephraim
