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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
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The May 11 , 1987 meeting of the Committee of the Whole of
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the South Bend Common Council was called to order by Councilman
Ann Puzzello at 4 :45 p .m. in the Council informal meeting room.
Persons in attendance included: Councilmen Serge, Braboy,
Puzzello, Taylor, Zakrzewski, Paszek, Barcome and Voorde; Norman
Primus, Glenda Rae Hernandez , members of the news media and
Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand.
Councilman Puzzello noted that the purpose of the meeting
was to discuss the proposed redistricting ordinance which would
incorporate the concept of a neutral decision maker. She then
called upon Mr. Norman Primus to review the project.
Mr. Primus noted that he basically had four (4) items to
highlight to the Council .
The first item dealt with the balanced neutral process. He
basically reviewed the governing law in the area and noted that,
as a part of the process, six (6) councilmanic districts must. be
prepared. He indicated that he has prepared districting kits
which have already been distributed throughout the community.
The second item he discussed was the difference between re-
apportionment and redistricting. He noted that the House of
Representatives is apportioned and the the House currently has
435 members. Every other body is redistricted. He noted that
since 1920, the Census Bureau has basically played the role of
the neutral decision maker at the federal level .
The third topic discussed by Mr. Primus was an insight into
various court decisions. He noted that Justice Felix Frankfurter
of the United States Supreme Court stated in 1946 that courts
should not get into the "political thicket." He also noted that
in 1986 , the U.S. Supreme Court , in a 7-2 decision , upheld the
Indiana redistricting plan.
The various constitutional implications were the fourth
topic discussed. Mr. Primus highlighted three (3) basic rights,
those being the right to be protected (which is a personal
freedom), the right to vote (which is also a personal freedom) ,
and the right to redistricting (which is a personal freedom) .
In summary , he noted, that anyone can have imput into
redistricting and that such a process did not require a knowledge
of politics . He strongly stated that gerrymandering is
unacceptable and that South Bend should lead the way in the area
of redistricting .
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Committee of the Whole
May 11 , 1987
Page 2
Councilman Barcome noted that he is on a State committee
working with Purdue University on various redistricting. Council-
man Barcome also noted that St. Joseph County is known to be the
best county with regard to how its precincts are compacted. The
Central Data Board , of which he is a member , uses Purdue
University to review all the data.
Councilman Voorde noted that the proposed ordinance would in
no way take authority away from the Common Council in this area.
Mr. Primus noted that Saturday is the deadline for receiving
maps and that the maps would go into effect in 1991 . The first
election under the new redistricting plan would be in 1995.
Councilman Braboy voiced concern with regard to discussions
conducted in the past on redistricting with special emphasis on
poor versus affluent areas. Such considerations should not be
factors used in that the State law provisions should control the
entire process.
Following further discussion by the Councilmembers, it was
recommended that Mr. Primus contact Council President Serge once
he has completed his review of the various maps. Following that,
a meeting is to be scheduled sometime in June to receive an
update from Mr . Primus .
There being no further busines to come before the Committee,
the meeting was adjourned at 5 : 15 p .m.
Respectfully submitted ,
Councilmember Ann Puzzello , Chairman