{"id":1601,"date":"2024-10-25T12:43:06","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T12:43:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/?p=1601"},"modified":"2025-10-25T04:19:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T04:19:48","slug":"fixing-redistricting-ohios-issue-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/2024\/10\/25\/fixing-redistricting-ohios-issue-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Fixing Redistricting: Ohio&#8217;s Issue 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<title>Center for Policy Studies Public Affairs Discussion Group &#8211; Fixing Redistricting: Ohio&#8217;s Issue 1. With Catherine J. LaCroix, J.D.,<br \/>\nLeague of Women Voters, Cleveland and Mark J. Salling, Ph.D. &#8211; Senior Fellow and Director of Northern Ohio Data and Information Service, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Public Affairs, Cleveland State University.<\/title><\/p>\n<table align=\"center\" width=\"640\" style=\"padding:3px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"702\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\" style=\"margin: -1.9px 2px 2px 2px;padding:5px\">\n<table style=\"padding:px\" align=\"center\" width=\"637\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"629\" colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\" style=\"margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px;text-align: center;font-size: 12px\">\n<p style=\"width: 100%;text-align: left;margin:                      3px 0px 0px;font-size: 24px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/238\/2024\/06\/07135207\/cas_logo_newsletters2.jpg\" alt=\"CAS\" longdesc=\"http:\/\/policy.case.edu\" height=\"100\" width=\"328\"><br \/><strong><font face=\"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif\" color=\"#0a304e\">Center for Policy Studies<br \/>Public Affairs Discussion Group<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\" style=\"margin: -4px -4px -4px -4px;text-align: center;font-size: 0px\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"margin: -1.9px 2px 2px 2px\" align=\"center\" width=\"640\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"502\" valign=\"top\" style=\"padding: 3px\">\n<table width=\"627\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"98%\" height=\"33\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\" style=\"margin: 0px 2px 2px 2px;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 24px;padding: 1px\"><strong><font color=\"#0a304e\">Fixing Redistricting: Ohio&#8217;s Issue 1<\/font><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table width=\"627\">\n<tr>\n<td width=\"70%\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\" style=\"margin: 0px 2px 2px 2px;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 14px;padding: 2px\"><img align=\"left\" src=\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/238\/2025\/10\/25023955\/lacroix_catherine.jpg\" hspace=\"3\"><\/p>\n<p>                   <font color=\"#0a304e\"><strong>Catherine J. LaCroix, J.D. &#8211; League of Women Voters, Cleveland<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"70%\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\" style=\"margin: 0px 2px 2px 2px;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 14px;padding: 2px\"><img align=\"left\" src=\"https:\/\/artscimedia.case.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/238\/2025\/10\/25024139\/salling_mark3.jpg\" hspace=\"3\"><\/p>\n<p>                   <font color=\"#0a304e\"><strong>Mark J. Salling, Ph.D. &#8211; Senior Fellow and Director of Northern Ohio Data and Information Service, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Public Affairs, Cleveland State University<\/strong><\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"70%\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"FFFFFF\" style=\"margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 14px;padding: 2px\"><font color=\"#0a304e\"><strong>Friday October 25, 2024<br \/>\n\t12:30-1:30 p.m.<br \/>Meeting Both In-Person and by Zoom<\/strong><\/font><br \/>\n<strong><font color=\"#990000\">Alternate Room: Mather House 100<\/font><\/strong><br \/>\n<font color=\"#0a304e\"><strong>Case Western Reserve University<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n<p><font color=\"#0a304e\">Dear Colleagues:<\/font><\/p>\n<p>\t<font color=\"#0a304e\"><strong>Gerrymandering is an old problem but that does not mean it\u2019s not a problem.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Legislative districts in Ohio \u2013 both for electing members of the state legislature and members of Congress \u2013 are clearly designed to give the Republican party a larger share of seats than of the population. Everyone knows why: the division into districts is controlled by the Republicans, who naturally favor themselves.<\/p>\n<p>On first glance the process is<\/font> <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Redistricting_in_Ohio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#0a304e\"><u>extremely complicated<\/u><\/font><\/a><font color=\"#0a304e\">, with different rules for congressional seats and the state legislature, but designed to protect minorities.  State constitutional amendments adopted in 2015 (for the state legislature) and 2018 (for Congress) require substantial minority approval of any plan that establishes districts for the decade between censuses.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, each process allows the state legislative majority to force through a four-year apportionment plan if the rules for bipartisan agreement on a ten year plan are not met. Rather than compromise much, Republican members of the redistricting bodies insisted on maps the Democrats would not accept. The maps were continually rejected by the state Supreme Court, as Republican Chief Justice Maureen O\u2019Connor sided with Democratic members of the Court. So the 2022 election was under the resulting partisan four-year plan.  That will be true of this year\u2019s congressional election.<\/p>\n<p>Elections to the state legislature will be based on a new map adopted by the legislature with bipartisan support in 2023. The political and legal maneuvering leading to this point were dizzying.<\/font>  <a href=\"https:\/\/ohiocapitaljournal.com\/2023\/11\/28\/ohio-supreme-court-dismisses-redistricting-challenge-leaving-statehouse-maps-in-place\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#0a304e\"><u>Here\u2019s a good account<\/u><\/font><\/a><font color=\"#0a304e\">. Essentially the Democrats decided the new map was a bit better than the old one but also that they would try to fix the system again with a new constitutional amendment, this year\u2019s Issue 1.<\/p>\n<p>Issue 1 would establish a<\/font> <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Ohio_Issue_1,_Establish_the_Citizens_Redistricting_Commission_Initiative_(2024)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><font color=\"#0a304e\"><u>Citizens Redistricting Commission<\/u><\/font><\/a><font color=\"#0a304e\">, similar to the systems in Michigan, Colorado, and some other states. You surely have seen many advertisements on each side.<\/p>\n<p><strong>So how would it function, with what likely effects? Most of us will have to vote on this in less than two weeks, so it seems like a pressing topic. Our two speakers bring undoubted expertise to the table.<\/strong> Both also have spoken to the \u201cFriday Lunch\u201d before.  Catherine J. LaCroix spoke in 2017 in her capacity as Adjunct Professor of Law specializing in environmental law. She spoke about EPA in the Trump administration. Mark Salling spoke with us in 2021 about the redistricting going on at the time. As an attorney and election law activist, Professor LaCroix especially can speak to the design and purpose of the plan. As a geographer who specializes in the geographic demographics of Ohio, Dr. Salling can help us understand the distribution of voters and so likely effects of different ways of drawing the lines.<\/p>\n<p>Best wishes for safety and security for you and yours,<\/p>\n<p>    Joe White<br \/>\n    Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies<\/font>\n  <\/p>\n<hr width=\"100%\" style=\"padding:0px\" \/>\n<h3><font color=\"#0a304e\">About Our Guests<\/font><\/h3>\n<p><font color=\"#0a304e\">For many years <strong>Catherine J. LaCroix<\/strong> was  an adjunct professor of law at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Professor LaCroix taught classes on Environmental Law, Administrative Law, Federal Courts, Land Use, Advanced Environmental Law, and Appellate Advocacy. Catherine LaCroix&#8217;s legal practice at Hogan &amp; Hartson focused on environmental health and safety regulation, including compliance counseling, legislative advocacy, consultation on environmental matters in real estate and other commercial transactions, appellate litigation, and administrative proceedings under a range of federal statutes.<\/p>\n<p>\t<strong>Mark J. Salling<\/strong> is a Senior Fellow and Research Associate in the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs. At the university since 1981, he has served as the Director of the College&#8217;s Northern Ohio Data &amp; Information Service (NODIS). He holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in Geography from Kent State University and an M.A. in Geography from the University of Cincinnati. While semi-retired, he stays active in research and public service.<\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" bgcolor=\"#ffffff\" style=\"margin: -4px -4px -4px -4px;text-align: center;font-size: 0px\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<table style=\"margin: -4px 2px 2px 2px;padding: 0px\" align=\"center\" width=\"640\">\n<tr>\n<td style=\"margin-top: 0px;padding: 0px;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 14px\">\n<p align=\"center\"> Visit the <a href=\"http:\/\/fridaylunch.case.edu\"><font color=\"#004480\">Public Affairs Discussion Group Web Site.<\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"> Center for Policy Studies | Mather House<br \/>\n        111 | 11201 Euclid Avenue |<br \/>\n        Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7109 |&nbsp;Phone: 216.368.6730 |&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:padg@case.edu\"><font color=\"#004480\"><u>padg@case.edu<\/u><\/font><\/a> |<br \/>Part of the:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.case.edu\/artsci\"><font color=\"#004480\"><u>College of Arts and Sciences<\/u><\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">&copy; 2024 Case Western Reserve University |<br \/> Cleveland, Ohio<br \/>\n        44106 | 216.368.2000 |&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.case.edu\/legal.htm\"><font color=\"#004480\"><u>legal notice<\/u><\/font><\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\nCenter for Policy Studies Public Affairs Discussion Group &#8211; Fixing Redistricting: Ohio&#8217;s Issue 1. With Catherine J. LaCroix, J.D.,<br \/>\nLeague of Women Voters, Cleveland and Mark J. Salling, Ph.D. &#8211; Senior Fellow and Director of Northern Ohio Data and Information Service, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Public Affairs, Cleveland State University.<\/p>\n<p style=\"width: 100%;text-align: left;margin:                      3px 0px 0px;font-size: 24px\"><strong>Center for Policy StudiesPublic Affairs Discussion Group<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>                <strong>Fixing Redistricting: Ohio&#8217;s Issue 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>                   <strong>Catherine J. LaCroix, J.D. &#8211; League of Women Voters, Cleveland<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>                   <strong>Mark J. Salling, Ph.D. &#8211; Senior Fellow and Director of Northern Ohio Data and Information Service,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/2024\/10\/25\/fixing-redistricting-ohios-issue-1\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading&#8230; <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Fixing Redistricting: Ohio&#8217;s Issue 1<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1601"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1612,"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1601\/revisions\/1612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsci.case.edu\/fridaylunch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}