Parties advance plans for new district boundaries

CARSON CITY -- The fight to control Nevada's political map until 2020 began Thursday in the state Legislature.

Republicans and Democrats unveiled maps that reflect each party's view of how the state's political boundaries should be redrawn based on the results of the 2010 census.

The Republican plan included proposed maps for four congressional districts, increased from three districts because of Nevada's population growth from 2001 through 2010.

Democrats released state Senate and Assembly maps but won't have congressional boundaries until next week.

With Democrats in control of the Legislature and a Republican governor, however, it is likely that the courts will make the final decisions on redistricting.

Each party already has filed paperwork for lawsuits.

"Both sides have plausible cases," said David Wasserman, an editor at the Cook Political Report. "It is probably just going to come down to a judge."

HISPANIC FACTOR

Republicans appear to concede the new congressional seat to Democrats, proposing a population mix that is almost 51 percent Hispanic and 58 percent registered Democrats.

In exchange they're seeking to maintain a Republican stronghold in Northern Nevada with a 43 percent Republican, 36 percent Democratic mix for the 2nd Congressional District, which is held by Republican Rep. Dean Heller.

The 3rd District, now held by Republican Rep. Joe Heck, would be 41 percent Republican and 38 percent Democrat under the Republican plan.

While Heck's seat would remain rooted in Clark County under the Republican plan, it would reach north through central Nevada and into Douglas County.

Republicans left the 1st District, now held by Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley, 46 percent Democrat and 32 percent Republican.

"The Republican plan is safety first," Wasserman said. "The Democrats are likely to favor a different approach that puts three or all four seats in their reach."

Democrats accused the Republicans of "packing" too many Hispanic voters into the new 4th District, effectively diluting their influence in other districts.

"The rest of the three districts have so few Hispanics they become negligible," said Andres Ramirez, a Democratic organizer.

Republican Brian Sandoval, Nevada's first Hispanic governor, said Republicans respect the fact that Hispanics represent 26 percent of the state population by ensuring the Hispanic community would largely control one of four seats in Congress.

"I have said along that I will only sign a bill that is fair to all Nevadans," Sandoval said. "According to the 2010 census, Hispanics represent more than 26 percent of Nevada's population. Pursuant to the requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act, we must ensure that members of the Hispanic community are able to participate and be fully represented without diluting their vote."

LEGISLATURE SHIFTS SOUTH

Neither party sought to increase the size of the state Legislature from the current number of 63 total seats. That figures to favor Democrats as it means at least two seats from the rural, Republican north moving into the urban, Democratic south.

Each party's maps shift the same legislative seats from north to south.

In the Senate, the seat held by Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, who was appointed in January to replace the retired Republican Sen. Bill Raggio, and is running for Congress, was drawn out of existence.

In the Assembly, the seat held by Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, was drawn out. In both plans Goicoechea, who plans to run for state Senate, will be in the district held by termed-out Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora.

The Republican plan would create majority voting age Hispanic populations in three Senate and seven Assembly districts. Including underage population, It proposes four Senate and eight Assembly Hispanic majority districts.

Democrats included one Assembly and two Senate districts with majority Hispanic voting age populations. When underage population is included, the Democratic plans have two Assembly and two Senate majority Hispanic districts.

There was disagreement over which strategy, Republican or Democrat, better served Hispanic voters.

Democratic supporters said spreading Hispanic votes more evenly ensures more lawmakers will represent a significant percentage of Hispanic residents.

"This means as many districts as possible where Hispanics can have an electoral impact," said Javier Trujillo of the Latin Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas.

Republican supporters said the presence of majority minority districts is more likely to result in an increase in Hispanic elected officials.

"If one out of four Nevadans is Hispanic, then one out of four districts should have a majority Hispanic population," said Tibi Ellis, chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Hispanic Caucus.

Each party's plan maintains a similar balance in Democratic and Republican representation.

The Republican plan includes 14 Senate seats with majority Democratic registration and seven that are majority Republican. In the Assembly, the breakdown is 27 seats with majority Democratic registration and 15 Republican.

Democrats had the same Senate breakdown and proposed an Assembly with 28 seats with a Democratic registration advantage and 14 with a Republican advantage.

But in many close districts independent voters probably will be a major factor in election outcomes.

POPULATION BALANCE

Besides racial balance, geography and registration breakdown, each party plan considers "deviation," which reflects how balanced districts are by population.

The law requires districts to be as even as possible in population, with the "ideal" size varying by the type of office.

The ideal for an Assembly seat is about 64,000 voters, a state Senate seat about 129,000 and a congressional seat is about 675,000.

Republicans noted their plans had lower deviation rates than Democrats.

But Democrats countered their plans introduced a "nesting" concept, which ensured two Assembly districts within each Senate district and more adherence to county and city boundaries.

They said nesting would ensure simpler election ballots for voters.

"It is our responsibility to make sure we keep the public interest first and foremost," said Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas.

Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, said the Republicans' adherence to keeping the numbers even also put policy ahead of politics.

"The Republican Party isn't looking for a gift; we are looking for a chance," Settelmeyer said.

Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel contributed to this report. Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.