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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Saturday, November 2, 2024

St. Clair County voters should let board members know what they think of map

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When St. Clair County board members vote up or down on the latest redistricted political map next Tuesday, they will be sealing the direction of county governance for the next decade.

While we've lost count on the exact number of maps that have been introduced by board chairman Kern - (the first one was so egregiously gerrymandered we think it might have even made some Democrats blush) - the latest presented Nov. 8 was no fairer. Among other things, it reduces the size of the board from 29 to 28. Can you guess which political party will suffer the loss of a seat?

Most flagrantly, the proposal does not reflect a 10-year population decrease of approximately 15,000, nor does it reflect eastern population shifts within the county.

Republican Michael Butler of O'Fallon makes the best point about how a fair process should work: "What we want to see reflected in this map is an accurate adjustment based on the data. We’re not asking for a map that is a Republican majority or a Democrat majority — we’re asking that it is fair and that it accurately represents the changes throughout the county and that gives voters a chance to be heard."

The upcoming Nov. 16 vote is a crucial one, thought it's not the only remedy to the county Democrats' unconstitutional power grab. A pending legal challenge in federal court is very much active and on solid ground. 

But, in the meantime, you can let board members and chairman Kern know what you think of their proposal. Cheryl Mathews, chair of the county GOP organization, encourages voters to let their voices be heard: "Call and email the following county board members and tell them to vote no on Mark Kern's unconstitutional map!"

Chairman Mike Kern 618-825-2203 mkern@co.st-clair.il.us

Email (all county board members) at countyboard@co.st-clair.il.us, and these Democrat members:

Robert Allen Jr (618) 274-8898

Harry Hollingsworth

Willie L. Dancy (870) 476-1126

Lonnie Mosley (618) 874-7814

Roy Moseley (330) 327-2129

Marty Crawford (618) 398-6507

Curtis McCall Jr (618) 420-8375

Steve Gomric (618) 604-4545

Ken Easterley

Scott Greenwald (618) 632-2274

Ken Sharkey (618) 570-7092

Richard Vernier (618) 660-8455

Robert Trentman (618) 751-1746

Jerry Dinges (618) 277-3222

CJ Baricevic (618) 978-2817

Scott Tieman

Susan Gruberman (618) 978-9818

Jana Armstrong Moll (618) 235-1373

Richie Meile (618) 691-9854

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