Thank you, again

By Chris Redfern on 12/19/2011 @ 11:00 AM

Two months ago, we set out with thousands of supporters to give Ohioans a voice in the redistricting process, because Republicans did not give them that voice.

Democrats could have simply sat idly by and accepted the Republicans’ unfair, gerrymandered map. But just as you have done all year, you fought back with us against their overreaching agenda.

And because dedicated volunteers stood out in the cold collecting signatures and talking to voters over the past six weeks, the debate over redistricting continued and Republicans were forced to defend the map they rushed through in just 48 hours after drawing it behind closed doors. Thanks to you, their tactics were exposed and thanks to you, we forced the Republicans to make changes to the map.

I wish to offer you my sincerest thanks for your help in this effort and for all that you have done in the past year. Whether it was to save worker rights, to protect voting rights or to fight gerrymandering, supporters like you have done whatever we have asked and worked tirelessly to achieve one victory after another. Yesterday is another victory for you.

The new map is not anything to be thrilled about. But it does make some districts a little more competitive, it does increase minority influence and it does hold together many communities that were sliced apart under the Republicans’ original plan. Were it not for your efforts, none of these changes would have been possible.

We know very well that Ohioans deserved a much fairer Congressional map than this. And the passage of this map in no way erases alarming concerns with the redistricting process, nor will it restore public trust. Democrats and others will continue to seek answers about the secretive and unethical process that was used to create the state legislative and Congressional maps.

Ohioans deserve to know that their votes matter. They deserve fair and competitive elections, the ability to hold politicians of all Parties accountable and the chance to elect good leaders who will serve the public interest by working together to create jobs.

The events of the last six months make clearer than ever that Democrats and Republicans need to come together to support a constitutional amendment to change the way we re-draw Congressional and state legislative districts. Voters deserve a redistricting process that is fair and open. We challenge Republicans to work with us to achieve that outcome by supporting a constitutional amendment on redistricting and putting that amendment before the voters.

Thank you again for your efforts. We hope you are enjoying the holiday season.

Click on the image below for an interactive map of the new Congressional districts.