Legal-Courts
Repubs “Fire” Redistricting Comnmishes Without Legal Authority
January 23, 2012 
After an attorney General’s opinion was issued last week saying there is “no mechanism in the law” to allow dismissal of commissioners serving on a bipartisan panel convened to map legislative districts, Idaho’s Speaker Lawrence Denney and Repub chair Norm Semenkop “fired” a couple of members anyway, according to John Miller of AP.
The issue in a nutshell is commishes Dolores Crow of Nampa and Randy Hansen of Twin Falls were not loyal (partisan) enough toward the Republican Party.
Idaho Code 72-1502 provides for appointments, but no dismissals. It looks like death or resignation are the only ways to create a vacancy.
Word “unda da rotunda” has it that Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden will be duty-bound to represent the Redistricting Commission and Secretary of State Ben Ysursa if the issue hits the courts.
Chief Deputy Secretary of State Tim Hurst told the GUARDIAN Monday, “The reapportionment commission meets Thursday with the current members and there are no vacancies being recognized by Secretary of State Ben Ysursa.”
With no vacancy on the commission, no new appointments are in order despite a planned announcement Tuesday morning by Denney. Let’s see who blinks first!
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Jan 23, 2012, 7:31 pm
So how is this going to work?
“I am the chair and I declare you out of order.”
“No, *I* am the chair and I declare *you* out of order.”
Or will the new members declare the meeting is in Room A and the old members will declare the meeting is in Room B and the remaining Republican and the three Democrats will need to decide what room to go to?
What next, a duel?
My bet’s on Dolores Crow.
Actually, it doesn’t matter all that much. A new map needs 4 to vote for it. So if the Democrats can agree with the one remaining Republican, it’s moot.
Jan 23, 2012, 9:40 pm
This is the powers that be in the Idaho GOP facing what they have wrought. All of a sudden Denny and Semanko are facing off the Tea Party extremists and the closed primaries that are closing in. That’s what’s really driving this charade. Calling for Hansen’s and Crow’s resignation, or even worse trying to fire them is just kowtowing to the extremists in their party. This isn’t about redistricting anymore, now it’s about the heart of the Republican party, and if you think Denney and Semanko are far to the right, watch out for what’s coming .
Jan 23, 2012, 11:51 pm
It really is the most crass debasement of any “approved process” around. In the years I worked with the Legislature I came to have great respect for Dolores Crow. She was firm, she tried to run her committee meetings with as much allowance for expression of opinion from as many as possible. I certainly didn’t agree with her philosophy all of the time; but, I always knew that my point(s) had been heard and that respect for my right to express them was present.
Too bad the same in not being accorded to her now.
Why, it is enough to engender cynicism!
Jan 24, 2012, 11:44 am
This just seems silly to me when you consider we have one party rule in Idaho. I think you could give this assignment to any high school government class and it would be done in less than a week.
It is all about cronyism in Idaho and little else.