For the week of July 18 - July 24, 2001

Republican plan could split Blaine County

Democrats unhappy with Frasure’s involvement

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By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

The Idaho Democratic Party is criticizing Sen. Evan Frasure’s perceived involvement in the state’s redistricting process, which will redraw the Gem State’s legislative boundaries for the next 10 years.

During a redistricting meeting July 10 in Boise, the Pocatello Republican wrote notes and had them passed to Cristy Sellers, the redistricting commission’s Republican chairwoman, according to Idaho Democratic Party Chairwoman Carolyn Boyce.

Boyce said she has received reports of Frasure’s use of hand signals to communicate with Republican members of the commission during meetings.

"It’s not a baseball game, and Evan Frasure should not be in the dugout," Boyce said.

Idaho law states that elected officials cannot be commission members.

"But Frasure has immersed himself so deeply into the day-to-day workings of the commission that it has become evident he is the man behind the curtain, pulling the levers and pushing the buttons," Boyce said.

Frasure did not return phone calls to respond to the Democrat’s allegations. But Idaho Republican Party Chairman Trent Clark said there is nothing unethical about Frasure’s involvement. The GOP is merely taking advantage of his redistricting expertise, Clark said.

Frasure was heavily involved in the 1992 reapportionment, which coincided with the demise of the Democratic Party in the state.

Sellers presented a draft map at the July 10 meeting that proposes splitting Blaine County between Hailey and Ketchum for representation at the Legislature, beginning in 2003. The northern half would be combined with Custer, Lemhi and Butte counties. The southern half would remain with Lincoln, Gooding and Camas counties.

Another Republican plan posted on the state’s Web site would position all of Blaine County with the counties to the north.

For the past 10 years, Blaine County has been represented with Camas, Gooding and Lincoln counties as District 21, a combination Democrats say gives good representation to the area’s constituents.

Democrats are accusing Frasure of masterminding the draft plans of Republican commissioners with a goal of diluting one of the state’s traditional Democratic strongholds.

"It violates Blaine County," Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, said of the plan to split Blaine. "It was worse than I had anticipated. I guess it’s the Republicans’ idea of an assault on a Democratic base."

Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, is equally unhappy with the Republicans’ draft plans.

"All these things aren’t a done deal yet, but the theme that seems to be coming from the Republicans is that Blaine has to go north," she said. "I think it’s important for us to maintain a vigilance."

The redistricting commission of three Republican and three Democratic appointees must have a new legislative district map that reflects the 2000 Census by Sept. 2. Four of the members must approve it.

Jaquet pointed out that she is not so much concerned about losing her seat should Blaine be combined with counties to the north as she is about ensuring the process is fair.

"Down the road, I think the seat would be lost to the Republicans, but I think Clint and I could still win our seats.

"But I think the bigger issue is what’s fair. To me it’s an effort by the Republicans to dilute the Democratic influence of this part of the state."

According to state law, communities should be protected and districts should only include divided counties when necessary to maintain equal populations in each district. Federal law states that districts cannot be manipulated for unfair political advantages.

Boyce said she thinks Frasure’s involvement in the process has made redistricting far more partisan than it has to be. It has also lessened the impact of citizen testimony, which she said was clearly against combining Blaine with counties to the north.

"If the commission were left to do its work, I believe the testimony from (a Twin Falls) hearing would have been taken into consideration," she said. "The maps we have seen, which completely ignore the testimony, have Frasure’s partisan fingerprints all over them."

At the Twin Falls hearing in June, political officials and citizens from both the Salmon River and Snake River Plain regions pointed to fundamental differences between the two regions.

The commercial and cultural links between the Wood River Valley and the Magic Valley, especially Lincoln County, are strong and getting stronger, Stennett said.

Boyce said she wrote a letter to Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa, Attorney General Al Lance and Director of Legislative Services Carl Bianci asking for guidance.

Legislative Services Policy Analyst Ross Bordon, however, said that even if there is a problem with Frasure’s involvement there’s little his office can do.

"If there’s anything to be done, it will have to be done by the commission themselves," he said.

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