The commission finished reconciling both State Senate and Congressional districts, paying additional attention to Communities of Interest and minority populations in the Tri-Cities area, Metro Detroit, and Muskegon. Afterward, the Commission began drawing State House districts beginning in the city of Detroit.
The commission also voted to allow Election Data Services (EDS) to expand its scope of work and provide partisan fairness assessment and voting pattern assessment in its analysis. This data will be used by racial bloc voting expert Dr. Lisa Handley to evaluate how to preserve the voting power of minority populations.
Meeting Information:
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhykiKpMlPM
Date: 9/20/2021
Time: 10 AM – 6 PM
Commissioners Present:
- Doug Clark (R)
- Anthony Eid (N)
- Brittini Kellom (D)
- Rhonda Lange (R)
- Steve Lett (N)
- M.C. Rothhorn (D)
- Cynthia Orton (R)
- Rebecca Szetela (N)
- Janice Vallette (N)
- Richard Weiss (N)
- Dustin Witjes (D)
Commissioners Absent:
- Juanita Curry (D)
- Erin Wagner (R)
Guests:
- Kim Brace, Kent Stigall, and John Morgan-Election Data Services (EDS)
- Bruce Adelson-VRS Litigation Counsel
The city of Midland belongs in area 11. It shares business ties with Bay City, Saginaw and Freeland. Namely the chemical industry with Dow, Cortiva, DuPont, Hemlock Semiconductor, and SC Johnson which are located in each of these communities. They also share STEM organizations. To separate Midland out would be diluting these businesses in a rural district.