For better districts

All were Greensboro residents.

Coble’s victory in 1984 came by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent. But the rematch in 1986 was even closer: Coble held the seat by only 79 votes out of nearly 145,000 cast.

North Carolina congressional races are rarely closely contested anymore, thanks to extreme gerrymandering designed to create districts where outcomes are virtually certain. The same is true for most state legislative districts, because the politicians who draw the districts prefer to engineer results and minimize competition for themselves.

A lack of competition, in elections as much as in commerce, never serves the public’s best interest.

When Republican legislators, who happened to hold the majority, drew district lines in 2011, they insisted they couldn’t do anything different. But their intent was to ensure themselves large majorities even if they registered barely half of the popular vote, and they were successful. Their handiwork led to legal challenges and defeats in court, but matters are far from settled.

There are better ways, however, and this week a project sponsored by Duke University and good-government advocacy group Common Cause presented the results. A panel of 10 retired judges, five Republicans and five Democrats, presided over a redistricting exercise that crafted a model congressional map that ignored partisan influences but adhered to federal voting requirements.

The result was a map devoid of odd-shaped, gerrymandered districts, and one that analysts believe would yield fairly balanced outcomes for North Carolina. Six districts might lean Republican, four might lean Democratic and three would be true toss-ups.

Currently, 10 districts are rigged to elect Republicans and three are set up to elect Democrats — a really skewed outcome given how closely divided the state is as a whole.

This ought to encourage North Carolina voters to push for an independent redistricting process. Unfortunately, Republican legislative leaders reacted with hostility to this illuminating exercise, accusing its participants of partisan intent and saying it violates the state constitution.

The constitution does give legislators the responsibility for mapping districts. So, why not propose a constitutional amendment and let the voters decide whether to approve it? This has happened in other states.

The demonstration was just that: a means of showing that a better way is possible. Rather than insult those who took part, legislators should praise them. All are respected leaders who want to improve the political process in North Carolina. Particular thanks are due to the co-chairs, retired Chief Justices Henry Frye of Greensboro, a Democrat, and Rhoda Billings of Winston-Salem, a Republican.

Balanced, competitive districts would require elected representatives to be responsive to constituents of both parties. This would have a moderating influence over our politics, which today are characterized by extremism on both sides.

There’s a better way. We’ve just seen it, and now we should make it happen.

http://www.greensboro.com/opinion/n_and_r_editorials/our-opinion-for-better-districts/article_9219dafa-618d-5b5a-853d-8eae51db868a.html