Few drawn to redistricting hearings
In all, the committee will travel about 1,000 miles around the state seeking input from Utahns, who appear disinterested in four proposed plans to carve up the state into four congressional districts.
Only two people commented during the public hearing in Provo, the first of three sparsely attended, far-flung hearings Monday that included stops in Price and St. George.
Three additional public hearings will be held today in Park City, Ogden and Salt Lake City.
"I was pleased to see the turnout of City Council and former City Council members and legislative district chairs," committee co-chairman Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said of the Provo hearing, held in the City Council Chambers. "There was one average citizen, but there were people elected to represent people. I wish they would have weighed in during public comment."
As many as 20 Utahns attended the Price hearing, which Bramble characterized as a robust discussion.
The committee's unanimous decision to include the Democrats' plan was an about-face from the position a week ago, when the Republican-dominated committee rejected it. The committee reversed course at the start of the morning hearing Provo after Democrats successfully lobbied co-chairmen Bramble and Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara.
"With Plan G.1, we really have a sharp contrast that gets us to the debate of whether every district should be mixed or if we should have a rural district," said state Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake. "I have heard from some in rural areas who have felt they'd be better served by someone really interested in agricultural issues and in trying to get on those congressional committees."
Provo College nursing student Brent Waldrop, who lives in Springville, told the committee he supported Plan G.1 because it would provide a rural district.
Congress is considering awarding Utah a fourth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to offset a proposal to give Washington, D.C., a voting seat in the House. The District of Columbia seat would most likely be won by a Democrat and the new Utah seat would likely go Republican.
The amended plan solved the original Plan G's problem of lumping the homes of 1st District Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and 3rd District Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, together in a redrawn 1st District. Plan G. 1 moves Mapleton, where Cannon lives, back into the 3rd Congressional District, while Springville would be split between the 1st and 3rd districts. Bishop would represent a rural 1st District and the new member of Congress would represent the new 4th District.
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