AZ Sen. Leach Caught Red-Handed!
Research conducted by a firm contracted by the Arizona Democratic Party uncovered evidence that Arizona Senator Vince Leach (LD 11), a Republican incumbent who is currently seeking reelection, has led a successful advocacy effort to ensure his place of residence is drawn into a safe Republican legislative district in the IRC’s draft legislative map.
Independent Redistricting was incorporated in the Arizona Constitution after voters approved Proposition 106 in November 2000. The central goal of Prop 106 was to remove politicians from the process of drawing their own political boundaries.
Senator Leach’s maneuvering, which includes at least two employees of the Arizona State Senate –Grant Hanna the Deputy Chief of Staff and Galen Kimmick the Executive Assistant to Senator Leach– appears designed to present advocacy supporting Leach’s preferred map as though it is coming from “communities of interest.” In reality, the advocacy is being directed by an incumbent Senator in support of a map drawn by a partisan operative. This distinction is significant because the Constitution allows the IRC to consider “communities of interest” while drawing legislative boundaries, but prohibits them from considering the residency of incumbents.
Masquerade is shameful
“Arizonans wisely took the power of drawing their own districts away from self-interested politicians, and for 20 years Arizona has been a national model for independent redistricting. Senator Leach’s behind-the-scenes efforts to masquerade this blatant attempt to protect his own incumbency in a non-competitive, Republican-dominant district are shameful. His actions have subverted the will of the voters and the spirit of independent redistricting.”
Read more: https://blogforarizona.net/caught-emails-reveal-covert-efforts-by-republican-state-senator-to-promote-gop-gerrymander/
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