KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The Alaska Supreme Court yesterday approved an interim plan for legislative districts in time for primary elections coming up in August. The interim plan is very similar to one submitted by the Alaska Redistricting Board in April, and does not incorporate the changes to Southeast the court had asked for when sending it back for revision.
The changes the court wanted prompted at least a half-dozen challenges and objections from Southeast. In its opinion the court indicated concern that those challenges would delay approval of a redistricting plan by the U.S. Department of Justice, and with the filing deadline June 1st, it decided to go with the interim plan.
Bob Brodie is Kodiak’s representative to the Redistricting Board:
— (Redistrict 1 16 sec "It was quite a surprise to … we were pleasantly surprised.")
Yesterday’s decision is just the latest appearance in court for the plan:
— (Redistrict 2 37 sec "There’s been two hearings … districts had with each other.")
Brodie said under the interim plan, the Kodiak House and Senate districts were virtually unchanged from the prior plan:
— (Redistrict 3 33 sec "The amended plan, which … rural villages around Bethel.")
Brodie said he doesn’t think the final redistricting plan would be so different from the interim one that elections would have to be held again next year. All House members will run for two-year terms, while senators will split between two-year and four-year terms.
If more changes are needed, Brodie says he wouldn’t mind if the Redistricting Board was given the summer off before tackling the plan again.
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