Johnson denounces congressional remap
Eric Fodor
Rep. Tim Johnson is denouncing the congressional remap proposal released today by the state Senate Democrats.
Rep. Tim Johnson is denouncing the congressional remap proposal released today by the state Senate Democrats.
Johnson's new district would include our region, which doesn't bother Johnson, according to an interview in March with Johnson's Chief of Staff Mark Sheldon. What undoubtedly does bother him is losing his home area, Champaign-Urbana.
"This map is a slap in the face to the notion of representative government," Johnson said in a prepared news release. "The map unnecessarily and derisively divides communities for blatant partisan gain. It was drawn without consultation or heed to common sense and as a result I believe it is constitutionally indefensible.
The 15th Congressional District would include all or parts of 33 counties and draw out most of Champaign-Urbana, Johnson's home base.
"There are people, counties, towns and interests that I have long-established relationships with that have senselessly been taken away," Johnson said in the news release. "I resent that, but unfortunately have no control, nor do the people I have tried faithfully to represent all these years. As I have done throughout my career, I will embrace new areas with all my energies and will continue to do my best to represent their interests and serve their needs in the future."
In 2001, the district in southeastern and south central Illinois was redrawn to include a sliver of former Rep. David Phelps' district including his home. Phelps was left with a choice of retiring, running in territory mostly familiar to Johnson or taking on Rep. John Shimkus in the neighboring 19th District. Phelps chose to take on Shimkus and lost. He would have had the same result in the 15th District.
The 15th District is probably a tossup if no incumbent runs, but leans GOP with Johnson as the sitting congressman. As I said before, he should be alright, provided his car is fuel-efficient.
As for the redistricting process, Illinois has chosen a "woe to the conquered" method of drawing the maps. Don't think for a moment both sides wouldn't use the remap process for political gain.
Don't like the results? Change the law: Program a computer and live with what it spits out. Neither side seemed real interested in real reform until it became clear after November the Democrats would be in the driver's seat for redistricting, then the GOP suddenly became concerned about keeping communities together and not gerrymandering the state into lobster claws and barbells.
And to be fair, don't think for a minute the Democrats wouldn't be crying foul if Bill Brady, Christine Radogno and Tom Cross ran the show.