Gov. Bob McDonnell on Monday announced a bipartisan advisory redistricting commission to help the General Assembly redraw legislative and congressional districts.
Though the General Assembly is not bound by its recommendations, supporters hope the 11-member panel of former officeholders, judges and government officials will put pressure on the legislators to ignore political considerations when drawing up the districts.
Legislators, probably meeting in a spring special session, will use new census figures to redraw the boundaries of the state's 140 General Assembly seats and its 11 seats in the House of Representatives. The revised districts will reflect population shifts within the state since the 1990 census.
McDonnell said he wants the commission to create and review proposed plans for the House of Delegates, the state Senate and the House of Representatives. The commission then will recommend plans that meet the criteria set by the General Assembly. He said he hopes the commission would make the process "fair and open."
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder endorsed the proposal.
For McDonnell, the panel fulfills a promise he made while running for governor in 2009. He drew criticism last year when he did not lobby for a bipartisan redistricting commission.
The commission, created by executive order, will be headed by political commentator Bob Holsworth of Richmond. Among its members are four known Republicans, three known Democrats and two retired judges.
The commission drew partisan responses.
Speaker of the House William J. Howell, R-Stafford, who is leader of the House Republicans, said, "We expect the independent commission will increase participation in the electoral process…"
"Too little, too late," said state Sen. A Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, who said he expects that the commission's recommendations will have "no impact on the legislative process whatever."
That said, McEachin praised the makeup of the commission.
twhitley@timesdispatch.com
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