Topeka — Two isn't always better than one, according to some community leaders and legislators.
Some cities and counties, especially in rural areas, are concerned with how their legislative districts would look under the latest Republican redistricting plan. Among the most vocal opponents of a House plan are southeast Kansas residents who would lose a representative.
"To deprive southeast Kansas of a seat in the Legislature is simply putting a new face on a very old political practice of gerrymandering," wrote Mary Ellen Otto, a Cherokee resident, in an e-mail to the Legislature. "In this case, it is not necessary."
The city of Atchison, which would be split in two, is concerned that dual representation would be detrimental for the growth in the city.
"I would hate to see the largest employer in Atchison represented by someone in Lansing or Leavenworth," John Kujawa, president of Atchison Steel Casting and Machining, said during a hearing on the GOP plan last week.
Residents in Hays also were concerned with the division of their town into three districts.
"I feel that the current redistricting proposal hinders our ability to remain an economically viable rural community," Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller wrote. "I ask you to reconsider the current boundary and maintain our current representation."
But the House Redistricting Committee's chairman said he can't understand why people wouldn't welcome more representation.
"I'm somewhat perplexed by rural counties that want to keep an entire district in one county," said Rep. Mike O'Neal, R-Hutchinson.
The state's population has continued to shift toward urban centers and away from rural areas. The 2000 census showed that a dozen rural counties, mainly in western Kansas, lost 10 percent or more of their population.
Legislators are attempting to balance the concerns of both rural and urban communities while adjusting district lines to reflect that change and meet court mandates of keeping districts as nearly equal as possible in population. "There are some legitimate concerns we're trying to address," said Rep. Doug Mays, R-Topeka, committee vice chairman.
Democrats would welcome another look at the GOP map. Republicans have a 79-46 majority in the House.
"To this point, the process has not been collaborative whatsoever," said Rep. R.J. Wilson, D-Pittsburg. "I don't think it is necessary to split Atchison and Hays. We would love to have a voice in this process."
To this point, both sides have been working separately, each proposing different maps and different solutions. But during the past week, both sides have discussed ways to present a map that would pass without a lot of floor amendments.
"We hope to have an agreement with the Democrats by Monday or Tuesday of next week and then committee," Mays said last week. "Hopefully we can avoid a bloody floor fight when we introduce the bill."
The Senate Redistricting Committee has a hearing on the proposed plans today.
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