Redistricting: Schedule for Public hearings set

On Friday of last week the Special Redistricting Panel released the public hearing schedule for redistricting. Why do we need public hearings for redistricting you may ask?

The preservation of "communities of interest" is a well-established redistricting principle. For purposes of redistricting, "communities of interest" have been defined to include, but are not limited to, "groups of Minnesota citizens with clearly recognizable similarities of social, geographic, political, cultural, ethnic, economic, or other interests."

Therefore, the panel seeks public comment about communities of interest that should be identified and preserved in the redistricting process. This input will aid the panel in evaluating plans that will be submitted by the parties and in establishing plans that will be adopted if the legislative and executive branches of the government do not reach an agreement on redistricting by February 21, 2012, as required by Minn. Stat. § 204B.14, subd. 1a(2010).

These meetings are open to the public, so if you want to have your concerns heard about where new lines should be drawn, these are the places and times you can go to do just that.

Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel Public Hearing Schedule

Day	Time	Location	City
Wednesday October 5th	6:30 - 8:30pm	Minnesota Judicial Center Courtroom #300	St. Paul
Thursday October 6th	6:30 - 8:30pm	John B. Davis Educational Service Center	Minneapolis
Friday October 7th Tuesday October 4th	6:30 - 8:30pm	Bloomington Civic Plaza	Bloomington
Monday October 10th	6:30 - 8:30pm	Fond du Lac Tribal Community College Ampitheater	Cloquet
Tuesday October 11th	6:30 - 8:30pm	Beltrami County Administration Building	Bemidji
Wednesday October 12th	6:30 - 8:30pm	Moorhead City Hall	Moorhead
Thursday October 13th	6:30 - 8:30pm	Stearns County Administration Center	St. Cloud
Friday October 14th	6:30 - 8:30pm	Blue Earth County Justice Center	Mankato