Clark County voters overwhelmingly approved a plan to reorganize into five council districts according to a map provided to voters, subject to minor changes that might be needed based on census results. Such a map was prepared for the council. They have rejected that map and the map approved by voters and proposed huge changes in the district boundaries for one reason: so that current councilors can remain in their districts and not have to compete with each other.
This is a classic case of self-serving councilors choosing their voters rather than voters choosing their councilors, i.e., illegal gerrymandering. It completely disrespects the will of the voters who approved a map and did not expect it to be changed to serve the interests of individual councilors. Councilor Gary Medvigy makes a ridiculous claim that voters did not intend that any current councilors end up in the same districts, but this is belied by the fact that the approved charter revision provided for exactly such a scenario. The charter revision was about how voters wished to organize themselves until the next census. It was not about any individual who happens to be a councilor today. Really, who do you councilors think you are to go against the will of a great majority of the people? It is not about you. It is about us. Give us the map we voted on.
