Minnesota. Governor's Citizen Advisory Commission on Redistricting.

On December 5, 2000, Governor Jesse Ventura signed Executive Order No. 00-10 which mandated the formation of a citizen advisory commission to review proposed redistricting plans developed by the Legislature (for both congressional and legislative districts) and to provide advice to the Governor's Office about those plans. Known as the Governor's Citizen Advisory Commission on Redistricting, the goals of the commission were to: 1) permit public participation in the redistricting process; 2) ensure that any redistricting plans enacted were fair to all parties and to incumbents and non-incumbents alike; 3) ensure that the plans were politically balanced; and 4) ensure that the plans were politically competitive.

The commission consisted of 11 members, with one representative each from the state's four political parties (Republican, DFL, Independence, and Green), one each representing the League of Women Voters and Common Cause, four members appointed at-large, and Dean Barkley, director of Minnesota Planning, who also served as commission chair. Joe Mansky of Minnesota Planning worked as the group's manager.

The commission first discussed criteria necessary for a fair and equitable redistricting plan and on April 4, 2001 adopted a set of guidelines to use when evaluating plans drafted by the Legislature. A Website was also created to expose the proposed plans to the public and encourage public participation and feedback.

At the adjournment of the Legislature in May 2001, both the House and Senate had passed their own respective plans. With no joint plan ready to be enacted into law, the Governor directed Mansky to also draft a plan, using the commission's criteria, that could be considered alongside the legislative plans. The Governor's congressional plan was made public at the commission's August 22, 2001 meeting and his legislative plan on October 31. In response to public testimony and discussion among its members, the commission voted to approve the Governor's congressional plan on October 31 and his legislative plan on December 19.

Concurrent with the activities of the Legislature and Governor, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz, acting on a citizens' petition, on July 12, 2001 appointed a Special Redistricting Panel to oversee all litigation pertaining to Minnesota's 2001-2002 redistricting and to adopt congressional and legislative redistricting plans to be used in the event the legislature failed to reach agreement by the federal deadline. In August 2001, the panel conducted public hearings around the state and received written input. Eventually four potential plans, the Zachman plan (the House Republican plan), the Cotlow plan (the state DFL party plan), the Governor's plan, and the Moe plan (the Senate DFL plan), were considered by the panel in preparation of their plan.

Under federal statute a certified redistricting plan had to be enacted by March 19, 2002. On that day, following the Legislature's failure to agree on a plan, the Special Redistricting Panel's plan was enacted.

On December 5, 2000, Governor Jesse Ventura signed Executive Order No. 00-10 which mandated the formation of a citizen advisory commission to review proposed redistricting plans developed by the Legislature (for both congressional and legislative districts) and to provide advice to the Governor's Office about those plans. Known as the Governor's Citizen Advisory Commission on Redistricting, the goals of the commission were to: 1) permit public participation in the redistricting process; 2) ensure that any redistricting plans enacted were fair to all parties and to incumbents and non-incumbents alike; 3) ensure that the plans were politically balanced; and 4) ensure that the plans were politically competitive.

The commission consisted of 11 members, with one representative each from the state's four political parties (Republican, DFL, Independence, and Green), one each representing the League of Women Voters and Common Cause, four members appointed at-large, and Dean Barkley, director of Minnesota Planning, who also served as commission chair. Joe Mansky of Minnesota Planning worked as the group's manager.

The commission first discussed criteria necessary for a fair and equitable redistricting plan and on April 4, 2001 adopted a set of guidelines to use when evaluating plans drafted by the Legislature. A Website was also created to expose the proposed plans to the public and encourage public participation and feedback.

At the adjournment of the Legislature in May 2001, both the House and Senate had passed their own respective plans. With no joint plan ready to be enacted into law, the Governor directed Mansky to also draft a plan, using the commission's criteria, that could be considered alongside the legislative plans. The Governor's congressional plan was made public at the commission's August 22, 2001 meeting and his legislative plan on October 31. In response to public testimony and discussion among its members, the commission voted to approve the Governor's congressional plan on October 31 and his legislative plan on December 19.

Concurrent with the activities of the Legislature and Governor, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz, acting on a citizens' petition, on July 12, 2001 appointed a Special Redistricting Panel to oversee all litigation pertaining to Minnesota's 2001-2002 redistricting and to adopt congressional and legislative redistricting plans to be used in the event the legislature failed to reach agreement by the federal deadline. In August 2001, the panel conducted public hearings around the state and received written input. Eventually four potential plans, the Zachman plan (the House Republican plan), the Cotlow plan (the state DFL party plan), the Governor's plan, and the Moe plan (the Senate DFL plan), were considered by the panel in preparation of their plan.

Under federal statute a certified redistricting plan had to be enacted by March 19, 2002. On that day, following the Legislature's failure to agree on a plan, the Special Redistricting Panel's plan was enacted.