I call BS on the Republican justification for gerrymandering: “Because the Legislature had a reasonable explanation for the boundaries they drew — a stated desire to have urban and rural constituents in each of the four congressional districts.”
The Wasatch Front is urban. If that was the goal, they could have paired Davis County, Utah County and Salt Lake County divided into two with rural counties. But Davis and Utah counties vote correctly, and Salt Lake County has a large number of Democrats, moderate Republicans/United Utah Party members and independents. There is only one reason Salt Lake County was divided into four sections, and that is to guarantee a Republican congressional seat regardless of the candidate. A Republican could win in Salt Lake County, but they would have to appeal to the moderates and independents.
I think back to when my congressman aired his anti-McAdams commercials stating McAdams voted with Democrats 75% of the time. I was handed a “representative” who not only votes along party lines 100% of the time, but whose primary political platform is, “Republicans are the righteous protectors of democracy and Democrats are evil socialists.”
Actions always speak louder than words, and the actions of the Republican leadership imply that all Utahns can vote and have the right to have their say, but Republicans are entitled to have their way.
Karen Loveridge, Salt Lake City
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