Rep. John Keenan Joins Colleagues in Support
BOSTON – In a press conference at the State House today Representative John Keenan (D-Salem) joined 54 other legislative cosponsors and a coalition including Common Cause Massachusetts, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, the NAACP New England Area Conference, MassVOTE, and MassVoters for Fair Elections to promote legislation to reform the redistricting process in Massachusetts. The legislation, if passed, would create an independent commission to oversee the typically divisive redistricting process. It also calls for more stringent guidelines to direct the redrawing of electoral boundaries. “Massachusetts pioneered the practice of political gerrymandering. We can be one of the first states to end the practice,” said Pamela Wilmot, executive director of Common Cause Massachusetts, “This is the right reform at the right time.” Senator Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), lead sponsor for the reform agreed. “If we are going to increase public trust and respect in the political process, it must start with ensuring fairness in creating legislative and Congressional districts,” said Moore, “These districts are the building blocks of the American system of representative democracy.” Keenan was a vocal and active proponent of the measure during last fall’s referendum ballot question campaign. “Redistricting is not an issue in Salem, where we are fortunate to have a single, concise House district encompass our entire city” stated Keenan, “However I am supporter of this measure because it is the right thing to do to protect our democratic system of government. The existing system discourages competition for office and effectively dampens democracy in many places in our commonwealth. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this much-needed legislation.” Last fall, Common Cause Massachusetts placed a nonbinding referendum question on the ballot in 15 Representative districts, asking voters if they would support creation of an independent commission to redraw districts rather than the state legislature. In each of the 15 districts the question passed overwhelmingly, by an average of 67%. In Salem, 9,224 voters were in favor of the measure, giving the question 63% of the vote in the city.
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