The latest Clark County Council actions in regard to redistricting are very concerning. A hearing is scheduled on April 13 to consider a new redistricting plan. The voters approved a map along with the change to five districts. Census-required redistricting failed in committee, leaving the charter map as the official map pending council action, and this map results in Chair Karen Bowerman no longer residing in the district to which she was elected. Councilor Gary Medvigy insists that voters did not intend to change the district of any sitting councilor. Page 117 of the Voters’ Pamphlet clearly stated the transition plan for exactly that case. To claim that voters do not know what they are voting on is to disparage us all, including those who voted for each of the current council members.
Voter-registration cards have gone out to a large number of county residents. For the council to redraw lines at this late date (candidate filing week ends May 20) risks confusing voters, feeds the fears of corrupt elections and may serve to disenfranchise voters. All this in the service of letting the council protect one of its own (who gets to stay in her seat through 2024 regardless).
