When elected, I will support Senate Bill No. 22, which would take the apportionment of legislative districts out of the hands of the Legislature, and put it instead under the control of an independent districting commission (this certainly would have saved Thomas Finneran a lot of trouble).

 

S. 22 is the same proposition as was proposed for a constitutional amendment in 2005, but unfortunately, despite support from gubernatorial candidate (now Governor) Deval Patrick, former Governor Dukakis, and the then Executive Director of the Republican Party, as well as all of the major newspapers (Boston Globe, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Boston Herald, Salem News, MetroWest Daily News, and Quincy Patriot Ledger), its principal sponsor, Common Cause, was unable to gather sufficient signatures in the time allotted, and so the proposed amendment must be approved by the Legislature.

The independent commission – whose seven members would be appointed by political leaders, but would have to have certain qualifications, and pledge themselves to be impartial – would have the responsibility to establish compact representative, senatorial, and governor’s council districts on the basis of established municipal boundaries, taking care not to isolate racial minorities or to favor or disfavor anyone on the basis of their political leanings.  They would put an end to the infamous system of gerrymandering which was invented here in Massachusetts some 200 years ago.

 

The results of the present system, where communities are divided up to favor favored incumbents, and dispose of those not favored, are well illustrated in the case of the 23^rd Middlesex.  Arlington, which has just about the right number of people to constitute a single representative district, is divided three ways, with four precincts annexed to Lexington, and two to Belmont.  Medford, which has about enough people for one and a half districts, is likewise divided into three parts, with three precincts annexed to Arlington to form the 23rd, seven joined with Somerville to form the 34^th, and six with Malden to form the 35^th.  A look at the representative district map (which may be found on the Secretary of State’s web-site) illustrates the crazy-quilt way in which the districts are laid out.  And the senate districts are not much better.

Eleven other states – Alaska, Arizona, Colorado,Idaho,Iowa, Hawaii, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington – have such commissions in one form or another. 

  “You have placed your trust in me for 19 years, and I have kept that trust in all that I have done.  Should you elect me as your Representative, I will do the same.  I will work for you and for Arlington & West Medford, and Massachusetts to be the best that they can be.”