Coalition Announces Support For Locke Congressional Redistricting Plan
Groups thank State Senate for their support of fair congressional redistricting.
Richmond, VA - A coalition of organizations from across Virginia today voiced their endorsement of the so-called Locke redistricting plan. ProgressVA, Virginia New Majority, Virginia AFL-CIO, and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia sent a letter to Senator Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and Senate Majority Caucus Chair Mary Margaret Whipple urging them to continue their support for fair and competitive congressional districts. (Please see full text of the letter below.) The organizations also launched an advocacy campaign to encourage grassroots activists across the state to Stand With the Senate at http://progressva.pnstate.org/redistricting
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2011
Groups thank State Senate for their support of fair congressional redistricting.
Richmond, VA - A coalition of organizations from across Virginia today voiced their endorsement of the so-called Locke redistricting plan. ProgressVA, Virginia New Majority, Virginia AFL-CIO, and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia sent a letter to Senator Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and Senate Majority Caucus Chair Mary Margaret Whipple urging them to continue their support for fair and competitive congressional districts. (Please see full text of the letter below.) The organizations also launched an advocacy campaign to encourage grassroots activists across the state to Stand With the Senate at http://progressva.pnstate.org/redistricting
In a joint statement, the organizations said, "We commend leaders in the State Senate for standing up for fair and competitive congressional lines. Every Virginian should be able to choose their representative, not the other way around. Unfortunately, the legislation the House of Delegates is promoting is nothing more than a politically motivated incumbent protection plan. Their plan disregards the commonly accepted redistricting principles of compactness, competitiveness, and minority representation in favor securing 10-year terms for politicians only elected for two. The redistricting plan proposed by Senator Locke and passed by the State Senate reflects increases in Virginia's minority population, preserves communities of interest and receives superior compactness scores while ensuring that more voters are in more competitive districts."
Anna Scholl, Executive Director of ProgressVA, added, "Redistricting isn't a sexy issue but whom constituents choose as their representative is one of the most basic actions in a democracy. Any redistricting scheme that reduces the impact of a vote is unacceptable. "
Tram Nguyen, Associate Director of Virginia New Majority, said, "Virginia's communities of color have contributed heavily to making our state what it is today. As the demographic composition of the state has changed rapidly over the past decade, Virginia has fallen even further behind in creating a fair system of political representation that reflects the state's diversity. Virginia has the opportunity now to create fair congressional districts that allow all Virginians the opportunity to make their voices heard. The future of Virginia and our capacity to progress towards a deeper democracy depend on it."
Background:
- The Locke plan receives superior scores on the Reock and Polsby-Popper compactness scales, over the House incumbent protection plan. Link: http://www.bluevirginia.us/showDiary.do?diaryId=4073
ProgressVA, Virginia New Majority, Virginia AFL-CIO, and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia sent the following letter to Leader Saslaw and Senator Whipple. It is also available online at http://progressva.pnstate.org/redistricting for citizen signatures.
July 26, 2011
Dear Leader Saslaw and Senator Whipple,
Thank you for your support of fair congressional districts. Virginians deserve the opportunity to choose their representatives, not the other way around.
The incumbent protection plan being pushed by the House of Delegates is simply unacceptable. We want competitive districts where our votes matter. We cannot accept a politically motivated redistricting plan drawn up by politicians in a back room.
The Locke plan, while not perfect, improves representation of our state's growing minority population while preserving compact and competitive districts.
Thank you for your support of fair and competitive congressional districts.
Sincerely,
Virginia New Majority
ProgressVA
Virginia AFL-CIO
Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia
###
Coalition Announces Support For Locke Congressional Redistricting Plan
Groups thank State Senate for their support of fair congressional redistricting.
Richmond, VA - A coalition of organizations from across Virginia today voiced their endorsement of the so-called Locke redistricting plan. ProgressVA, Virginia New Majority, Virginia AFL-CIO, and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia sent a letter to Senator Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and Senate Majority Caucus Chair Mary Margaret Whipple urging them to continue their support for fair and competitive congressional districts. (Please see full text of the letter below.) The organizations also launched an advocacy campaign to encourage grassroots activists across the state to Stand With the Senate at http://progressva.pnstate.org/redistricting
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2011
Groups thank State Senate for their support of fair congressional redistricting.
Richmond, VA - A coalition of organizations from across Virginia today voiced their endorsement of the so-called Locke redistricting plan. ProgressVA, Virginia New Majority, Virginia AFL-CIO, and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia sent a letter to Senator Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and Senate Majority Caucus Chair Mary Margaret Whipple urging them to continue their support for fair and competitive congressional districts. (Please see full text of the letter below.) The organizations also launched an advocacy campaign to encourage grassroots activists across the state to Stand With the Senate at http://progressva.pnstate.org/redistricting
In a joint statement, the organizations said, "We commend leaders in the State Senate for standing up for fair and competitive congressional lines. Every Virginian should be able to choose their representative, not the other way around. Unfortunately, the legislation the House of Delegates is promoting is nothing more than a politically motivated incumbent protection plan. Their plan disregards the commonly accepted redistricting principles of compactness, competitiveness, and minority representation in favor securing 10-year terms for politicians only elected for two. The redistricting plan proposed by Senator Locke and passed by the State Senate reflects increases in Virginia's minority population, preserves communities of interest and receives superior compactness scores while ensuring that more voters are in more competitive districts."
Anna Scholl, Executive Director of ProgressVA, added, "Redistricting isn't a sexy issue but whom constituents choose as their representative is one of the most basic actions in a democracy. Any redistricting scheme that reduces the impact of a vote is unacceptable. "
Tram Nguyen, Associate Director of Virginia New Majority, said, "Virginia's communities of color have contributed heavily to making our state what it is today. As the demographic composition of the state has changed rapidly over the past decade, Virginia has fallen even further behind in creating a fair system of political representation that reflects the state's diversity. Virginia has the opportunity now to create fair congressional districts that allow all Virginians the opportunity to make their voices heard. The future of Virginia and our capacity to progress towards a deeper democracy depend on it."
Background:
ProgressVA, Virginia New Majority, Virginia AFL-CIO, and the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia sent the following letter to Leader Saslaw and Senator Whipple. It is also available online at http://progressva.pnstate.org/redistricting for citizen signatures.
July 26, 2011
Dear Leader Saslaw and Senator Whipple,
Thank you for your support of fair congressional districts. Virginians deserve the opportunity to choose their representatives, not the other way around.
The incumbent protection plan being pushed by the House of Delegates is simply unacceptable. We want competitive districts where our votes matter. We cannot accept a politically motivated redistricting plan drawn up by politicians in a back room.
The Locke plan, while not perfect, improves representation of our state's growing minority population while preserving compact and competitive districts.
Thank you for your support of fair and competitive congressional districts.
Sincerely,
Virginia New Majority
ProgressVA
Virginia AFL-CIO
Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia
###