In This Issue

• Bulletin Board
• Chair's Corner: Redistricting
• Democrats Join Bipartisan Petition Drive to Save The Right to Vote Straight Party

Bulletin Board

Berkley Democratic Club Meetings
February 28, 2002 (4th Thursday)
Annual meeting and election of officers

March 21, 2002 (3rd Thursday)
Topic to be determined

April 25, 2002 (4th Thursday)
Topic to be determined

May 16, 2002 (3rd Thursday)
Topic to be determined

All club meetings will be held at Anderson Middle School in the Media Center beginning at 8:00pm.

- Ralph Conklin

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Chair's Corner

Redistricting

Every ten years population shifts are captured by the census. Based on the findings electoral districts are redrawn to ensure equal representation for all citizens. It is a good idea that preserves an important value in our democracy. But those who draw the lines have another interest: How can we draw these lines to ensure that more of our people are elected? They study voting patterns in past elections to guide their pen.

This process gave the English language a new word when in 1812 in Massachusetts, republican Elbridge Gerry drew a district that looked like a salamander in order to guarantee a republican victory. Thereafter, "gerrymandering" became the descriptive term for creating nonsensical districts to advantage a particular party.

Republicans have the votes in Lansing to draw these lines to their advantage and they have the Supreme Court to enforce it. Essentially, we are on the outside of this process looking in, and this is where Berkley stands:

• Congress - We will belong to the 9th Congressional District (unless overturned by the court) and our Congressman will be republican Joe Knollenberg. Therefore, we leave Sandy Levin's district and join the communities of Farmington, Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Clawson, and the northern section of Southfield. We can take some comfort from the fact that Sandy Levin will always be a friend of Berkley and he will continue to enjoy our support.
• State Senate - Berkley will join the 13th state senate district with Troy, Clawson, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Madison Heights. Our state senator will be republican Sen. Shirley Johnson unless she loses to another republican in the primary. Instead of losing Sen. Gary Peters it is hoped that he will be a candidate for a statewide office in the fall.
• State House - Berkley will be in the 27th district and will join the communities of Hazel Park, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, and Huntington Woods. Clearly this is a Democratic seat in which we are ably represented by Gilda Jacobs. Since Huntington Woods is now in a different senate district Gilda will run for the state senate in her new district. Meanwhile, Andy Misner has been working hard to become our new Democratic State Representative following the next election.

- Phil O'Dwyer, Chair

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Democrats Join Bipartisan Petition Drive to Save The Right to Vote Straight Party

All members of the Michigan Democratic Party that paid dues for 2001 have received a petition to fight the passage by state legislature and the Governor's signing of Public Act 269 of 2001. This act removes the ability of a voter to vote for all of the party's nominees using a single mark.

This is an initiative petition that would place the issue on the November ballot. It would also prevent the law from taking effect for the 2002 election. Your help is needed to aid in the collection of the necessary signatures.

The Straight Party Petition has room for ten signatures. They must all reside in the same county. For our club members, it would be Oakland County. A new petition would have to be started for people who reside in Macomb or Wayne Counties. The petition can be completed with the signatures of you and your wife, along with four other couples. If you did not receive a petition or want additional petitions, they can be obtained by calling the State Party Headquarters at (515) 371-5410 or the Oakland County Democratic Party at (248) 584-0510.

Petitions must filed by the Pro-Voters, the organizing committee, by March 21, 2002. Return your completed petition including the attached pages to MDC, 606 Townsend , Lansing, MI 48933 or OCDP at P.O. 423, Troy, I 48099-0423.

- Ralph Conklin

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