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Redistricting raises controversy By Dani Dodge Medford residents told legislators Friday that they don�t want to see their city split up between two state representative districts. "I would hope we could continue the integrity ... and keep Medford together," said Barbara Davidson, a retired teacher. "It�s a real negative to take a wedge of the city out and say �you go here.� "Look to keep as much of the city whole as possible." A dozen state senators and representatives visited Medford on Friday for the first of a series of meetings around the state on redistricting. The meeting was held at Medford City Hall. Every 10 years, the Legislature has the task of adjusting political boundary lines to make all districts roughly equal. Each new House district should have about 57,023 people and each new Senate district should have 114,047 people. The Medford district �District 50 � has grown to 63,154 people, however. That means about 4,000 people currently in District 50 represented by Rep. Rob Patridge will have to be siphoned off into lesser-populated outlying districts. Some districts in Southern Oregon desperately need people, such as District 46 represented by Rep. Susan Morgan. Her district is shy more than 4,000 people. Districts to the east and west of the Rogue Valley � the coast and Klamath Falls district � also need to expand their boundaries dramatically. The majority of the eight people who spoke to legislators at the meeting Friday were concerned about keeping Ashland in the same district as Talent and Phoenix. "I want to keep Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix separate from Medford," said Ashland resident Sally Jones. "There�s a cohesiveness in the southern part of the county based on tourism, theater and high-tech companies. It�s a different economic base than in Medford." Shady Cove City Administrator Elise Smurzynski read a letter signed by Mayor Tom Anderson, asking to be put into District 52, represented by Alan Bates. They are currently in District 46, the bulk of which is in Douglas and Josephine counties. "Our city representatives are actively involved in Rogue Valley planning and transportation agencies, as well as numerous community, social, and civic organizations representing the Rogue Valley," the letter read. "We would like to be part of a district that represents our city, our citizens, their interests and the Jackson County communities with whom they have the most interaction." Rep. Cherryl Walker, a Republican from Murphy, said legislators will take all the comments into consideration. "I think it�s important to remember, though, that Medford is one district and there will have to be some separation," she said. "We will pay attention to what people are saying, but we can�t ignore that Medford has 62,000 people." Bates said it�s important for legislators to come up with some type of plan. "If we can�t come up with something by July 1, it goes to the secretary of state," he noted. "And If someone doesn�t like that plan, then it�s in the courts." "No one wants that." Anyone wanting to comment on the redistricting can write to: Marjorie Taylor, redistricting coordinator, 900 Court St., NE Room 334, Salem, OR 97310 Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.