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| (JD Bullington photo) |
There is no way to avoid going into the weeds in the complicated, often confusing and always combustible redistricting process when it breaks down, so here we go. . .
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted out a plan that amended the original redistricting proposal that had two Valencia County GOP senators paired against one another. The Judiciary plan halts that move.
Disagreement over that has been the media narrative for why things have grinded to a halt--that the Judiciary plan rescues Republicans, dilutes Indigenous representation and the original plan strengthens it. There's another narrative as well.
But first longtime politics watcher, educator and Democrat Carolyn Abeyta of Valencia County--Ground Zero in the Senate stalemate--explains from her viewpoint what's happening:
The Special Session to address redistricting began smoothly. Unfortunately, the greed of some legislators to redraw district maps to eliminate primary contenders by those of the same party has created havoc.
In their efforts to try to retain their seats, these legislators created issues with Native Tribes who had worked tirelessly for the past 8 months to create a more equitable system that allows them to be better represented.
A visible example is Senate District 29 held by Senate Republican Leader Gregory Baca and Senate District 30 held by Republican Joshua Sanchez. In an effort to avoid a primary between themselves, as would have been the case under the new, proposed maps, the Senators came up with a “new” version of a map. Not only did they redraw the lines to eliminate a run-off, they also redrew the lines to eliminate the Minority Leader's 2020 Democratic opponent, Paul A. Baca, who lost by less than 2%.
It appears Senator Gregory Baca understood the stiff competition and deliberately redrew or had the lines re-drawn to move the boundary for District 29, 1 block north of Paul Baca’s home and literally behind his business, an attempt to eliminate any type of re-run against Minority Leader Baca.
The new map to pull Senator Joshua Sanchez back into Senate District 30 eliminates the chance of the Minority Leader and Sanchez having to decide who would best serve the new District 29 by either a primary between them or one of them deciding not to run. It also eliminated the hopes of Paul Baca to again challenge Senator Gregory Baca.
If the substitute for Sen. Bill 2 is adopted, the voice and input of many will be hindered. The concern is that 5 Democratic Senators voted for the substitute in committee. If they all vote with Republicans to adopt the legislation, it gives the D’s 20 votes, the R’s 21 and leaves the deciding vote in the hands of ABQ Sen. Jacob Candelaria, now an Independent. If Candelaria votes with the R’s the substitute legislation passes, if Candelaria votes with the D’s the decision would be left with Lt. Governor Morales who has the power to break tie votes.
Hidden motives by the Senate Minority Leader and his party have created a mess and ignored months of citizens work and months of work by Native tribes to make certain they are fairly represented. All that to better the odds of Republicans like Senator Gregory Baca and Sanchez to hold onto their coveted seats.
Well done, Carolyn. It doesn't get more inside than that.
A SECOND LOOK
Now here's a key player in the redistricting process with a slightly different take:
The narrative that Senate Democratic leaders are protecting Republicans over Native Americans is inaccurate. The issue quite simply is how much of a role the Senate still has. As interest groups become increasingly powerful and legislators increasingly conflict averse, the Senate's role is much diminished.
Senators advised Native American representatives to insist on a Senate district where there is no incumbent, a high percentage of Native American primary voters and a high Democratic turnout in the general election so there is no risk. Protecting incumbent R's? Not in this case--given the specific Republicans. I could see it for certain favored Republicans but not here.
The Senate has scheduled a floor session for this afternoon. The House says it will next meet on Thursday.
BERNCO PASSES PLAN
Absent a court ruling the new districts will be in effect for the next decade.
The vote was 4 to 1 with only Quezada voting against.
The commission meeting was conducted amid a swirl of accusations about the role of corporate giant Santolina and whether Quezada was carrying water for the group and wanted to have time to come up with a map that would be more favorable to getting pro-Santolina candidates elected.
Santolina is planning a large community in far west BernCo that would have 90,000 residents. It has become hyper-controversial among progressives who fear more urban sprawl.
Quezada has been supportive of Santolina. Last night he said:
No matter what I do, it's about Santolina. It's not. Its about fair representation for the Westside. We've been under represented our entire life. We are looking at ways to make it an equal playing field.
Quezada was referencing a plan to carve out a district that would be wholly on the westside, saying the area plays second fiddle to the other districts.
Commissioner Debbie O'Malley, an opponent of Santolina, argued otherwise, saying that her Westside constituents are pleased and have urged her to support the initial redistricting plan which keeps her District One in the North Valley as well as the Westside.
GOP Commissioner Walt Benson voted in favor of Quezada's failed motion to defer the plan but later voted in favor of the redistricting.
Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty called the last minute machinations by Quezada "disrespectful to the process" which she said was lengthy, open and professionally conducted by longtime demographic group Research and Polling.
She added that Santolina is a corporation--not a constituent--and doesn't have a say in the redistricting process.
Vanessa Alarid, lobbyist for Santolina, said the company was not involved in the redistricting process, that she and others felt as Quezada did--that the Westside is best represented by uniting it in one district.
As for the O'Malley district, we've confirmed that Barbara Baca from the Westside, a member of the Mid Rio Grande Conservancy Board of Directors, is seeking to replace O'Malley who is term limited. Baca will run for the Dem nomination for the commission seat. The Dem nominee is pretty much a lock to win the general election in the heavy Dem district.
Also, Commissioner O'Malley says she is "seriously considering" a run for Bernalillo County Assessor to replace Dem Tanya Giddings who is term limited. Again, whoever gets the June Dem nomination is pretty much a lock to take the post in the general election next November.
THE BOTTOM LINES
We have some pretty cool redistricting data on the new congressional maps, but they're dragging us off the blogging stage, saying no monster blogging is allowed this time of year so that new stuff will have to wait until tomorrow. Look forward to seeing you then.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021