Columbus Dispatch...
Dems offer alternative congressional map
By Jim Siegel 

Jim Slagle, manager of the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting, said the new gerrymandered Republican congressional map obviously did not rely on any of the campaign’s suggestions for competitiveness and compactness. 

However, one of the maps drawn for Slagle’s group is getting attention – from minority Democrats. 

Sen. Tom Sawyer, D-Akron, today introduced an alternative to the Republican map that is expected to get Senate approval this week, after quickly passing the GOP-controlled House last week. 

Sawyer chose a map drawn by Republican Illinois state Rep. Mike Fortner, which would create 11 competitive districts out of 16, compared to the two being drawn by Republicans. While it slices Franklin County into four districts, it splits counties 21 times, compared to more than 60 under the GOP map. 

The map’s minority district is 48.3 percent black, which critics say does not meet the 50-plus threshold. Supporters say that threshold is not set in stone. 

“Mr. Fortner’s map may not be perfect, but its light years head of House Bill 319,” Sawyer said, referring to the bill containing the Republican map. “I hope my legislation will lead to a thorough conversation about the supercharged partisanship that has over taken our current redistricting process.” 

Read it at the Columbus Dispatch