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We're going to need some eyes on redistricting in Arizona. GOP has played a serious long game and it is about to pay off https://www.salon.com/2021/01/14/arizona-republicans-make-sneaky-moves-to-rig-redistricting-commission-before-any-lines-are-drawn/
AZ uses five-person commission to draw lines, two Rs, two Ds, and an independent chair
It's not a well-designed commission for many reasons, perhaps most important bc/ of pressure it puts on independent chair -- and temptation it hands parties to game system
It's not a well-designed commission for many reasons, perhaps most important bc/ of pressure it puts on independent chair -- and temptation it hands parties to game system
The four partisan commissioners choose the chair from a list of five finalists provided by the state Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. That tends to be a pretty sleepy board. Not now! It's where the intrigue begins
GOP Gov. Doug Ducey stacked what has long been considered a professional and nonpartisan board with cronies and family members of political allies https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/05/02/doug-ducey-stacking-arizona-commission-appellate-court-appointments-democrats-say/3630708002/
CACA -- yep, that's the abbreviation -- held sham interviews https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/ducey-held-sham-interviews-for-board-key-to-az-redistricting-11447266
And then they went through dozens of applications for the independent chair and selected five finalists, including a gun store owner whose shop played host to a Trump rally that Rep. Andy Biggs spoke at. And a "shooting day" in support of the president. https://azdailysun.com/news/local/republicans-supporters-gather-for-trump-event-in-flagstaff/article_e47e4d0c-70ef-5962-a384-cacfad5c43ee.html
That's a pretty bleak standard for "independent." But wait! Several of the others aren't much better. There's a lawyer for a giant utility, whose sister ran a dark money campaign against Ds for the influential state Corporation Counsel.
There's a national board member of AIPAC who has given to the governor and R/D congressional candidates. A luxury flower shop owner whose partner's firm has ties to the governor.
The four members of the commission begin discussions on the chair today. But if they deadlock? It goes back to CACA. Which means that Rs may well hold the tie-breaker. https://www.azmirror.com/2021/01/12/redistricting-commission-will-meet-to-choose-independent-chair/
Nothing much rests on these lines ... except the Congressional map for the next decade and voting rights in a swing state. Another state worth watching for chicanery even as focus has been on DC
