Remap panel adopts partisan maps to last just four years

Sep. 16—COLUMBUS — Reforms approved by voters six years ago were designed to remove some of the politics from the inherently political process of redrawing state legislative districts, but the first test of those reforms early Thursday morning led to a strictly partisan vote and maps that can last just four years.

Just after passage of the midnight deadline, the Republican-dominated Ohio Redistricting Commission voted 5-2 to adopt new districts for the state House of Representatives and Senate that would be expected to cement GOP super-majorities in both chambers. Barring a successful challenge before the Ohio Supreme Court, the new districts will be used for the first time in 2022 legislative elections.

Gov. Mike DeWine voted for the maps, but predicted they will be challenged before the Ohio Supreme Court.

"I know this commission could have produced a more clearly constitutional bill," he said, "That's not the bill we have in front of us...I have felt through this process that there was a compromise to be had, that the bill could be improved and become much more clearly constitutional. I was wrong.

"...The parties are not that far apart," he said. "They think they are, but they're not. Tonight it became clear to me that there's not going to be a compromise, that there can't be a coming together."

Senate President Matt Huffman (R., Lima), said the House and Senate maps he presented would reduce the number of Republicans in the General Assembly collectively by six. He said the map was closing in on what Democrats had proposed.

But Sen. Vernon Sykes (D., Akron), one of the two Democrats, said, "I am just astounded at the arrogance of the super -majority having such a callous disregard for the people of this state."

His daughter and fellow commissioner, House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes (D., Akron), agreed.

"The Democrats on this commission made it very clear that the maps we saw yesterday were a non-starter," she said. "...Any suggestion that they are closer (to Democratic priorities) is a patently false statement."

Secretary of State Frank :LaRose and Auditor Keith Faber joined Mr. DeWine in saying they were reluctantly supporting these maps, making it clear that there was a rift between the GOP statewide officeholders on the commissioners and the two Republican legislative leaders.

"This is as good as it's going to get today...," State Auditor Faber said. "I don't have another choice to vote yes or no on."

Under a constitutional amendment adopted by voters in 2015, the commission had until midnight to adopt a map that has the backing of both Democrats on the panel that would last the next decade until after the next U.S. Census in 2030.

By voting strictly along party lines, the commission ensured that the new map would last just four years before the process would have to start over. It also virtually guarantees a legal challenge.

Republicans currently hold veto-proof majorities of 64-39 and 25-8 in the House and Senate, respectively and the maps adopted early Thursday morning would be expected to reduce those GOP majorities only slightly.

The maps would largely maintain the partisan makeup of northwest Ohio, keeping three Democratic-held House districts and one Senate seat centered on the city of Toledo while the rest of the largely suburban and rural region would be reliably Republican or lean that way.

It would move the district now held by Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D., Toledo) westward, leaving her Point Place home in the eastern Lucas County district now held by Rep. Mike Sheehy (D., Oregon). Mr. Sheehy is term-limited, so Ms. Sobecki could run as the incumbent in that district if she chooses not to physically relocate.

Because of its population growth over the last decade, Wood County, now a stand-alone House district, would split nearly down the middle between districts currently held by Reps. Haraz Ghanbari (R., Perrysburg) and Derek Merrin (R., Monclova Township). A proposal from commission Democrats also would have split the county in half.

In addition to Lucas and Wood, the House proposal would divide Hancock, Defiance, and Wyandot counties between districts.

Allen County no longer has enough population to warrant a stand-alone House district. So the district currently held by term-limited Speaker Bob Cupp (R., Lima) would pick up Auglaize County territory to meet its population target of roughly 120,000 under the GOP proposal.

The Senate map would also set up a potential Republican primary election showdown in 2024 in the revised 26th District between Sens. Bill Reineke (R., Tiffin) and Mark Romanchuk (R., Mansfield). The largely rural district would still hold Sandusky, Seneca, and all or part of three more counties now represented by Mr. Reineke but would also pick up Mr. Romanchuk's home county of Richland.

In addition to adjusting for population shifts over the last decade, the new constitutional rules require the commission to draw districts that are geographically compact, split fewer counties and other political subdivisions, and generally reflect the political preferences of the state as a whole.

First Published September 15, 2021, 12:01pm