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Citizens challenge redistricting planChisago County citizens Mark Oberg and Donald Waller petitioned for a writ of mandamus in Tenth Judicial District Court May 28 challenging the county boardís recent adoption of a new 10-year redistricting map. The pair objects to the chosen map saying the county board failed to adopt a plan that created districts as nearly equal in population as possible, which is one requirement of Minnesota StatuteS375.025. In addition to the population issue, Oberg and Waller do not feel the chosen map is as regular and compact as possible. They contend that the county board chairman intentionally ignored and rejected advice from County Administrator Jim Thoreen and County Auditor Dennis Freed on the legality of the plan. Their complaint says the action taken by the board on May 22 (at a two-part board meeting) ìwas arbitrary and/or an abuse of discretion.î When contacted about this action, County Administrator Thoreen said the petition would probably be sent to a judge out of the district. He said the county will wait to see if that judge sends the plan back to the board to rework or if the judge decides the countyís chosen map meets the statutory criteria. Thoreen said he believes the plan meets the criteria. ©ECM Post Review |