by Jo Ingles
A bipartisan redistricting proposal is set to go on the ballot this November. The state Democratic party has been slow to formally support the idea, but may be moving closer.
The Ohio Democratic Party's screening committee has voted to recommend the party endorse Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment to set up a seven member bipartisan panel to redraw state lawmakers' district boundaries.
For months now, the Ohio Republican Party and some groups that bill themselves as government watchdogs have been on record as supporting the plan.
But in an interview with Ohio Public Television last month, Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper said the current gerrymandered map was drawn by the Republicans who support this plan.
"So forgive us if we're going to take a little time to do the homework to make sure that this reform and the very specific criteria," Pepper said at the time. "This is the constitution of the state, after all, that we would be changing forever."
Pepper said the party's executive committee will meet next month to consider the proposal to officially back Issue 1, which he said is not a panacea—but it is a step in the right direction.