Several comments have been said by both Council members, elected officials, private citizens, plaintiffs and the Redistricting committee.
Our intentions are to put the pieces together and see what we come up with.
Maybe if your lucky Mr. Cassidy, your name might stay out of the Courier-Journal.
We seriously doubt it.
So Mr. Wimp, you just want it over with no matter what happens?
Mr. Smith did you really think you had control over the council?
Back on topic: Is this Smithgate or Watergate?
May 12, 2006:
"City Council District 2 contains thousands more residents and registered voters than any other districts, records show. But the council president says important issues on the agenda trump any redistricting, even with the threat of a lawsuit. Through the Council redistricted in 1992, it failed to do so in 2002. Two proposals lacked the support to pass, former Councilman Maury Goldberg said."
Plaintiffs spew their venom:
the new albanian aka: Roger Baylor plaintiff said: Councilman Coffey, have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?
signed Roger A. Baylor, Jeff Gillenwater, Randy Smith
Source: blog
all4word aka: Randy Smith plaintiff said: City Council member's can only be removed by death or conviction for a felony, or conviction of a misdemeanor germane to the office and duties...or on May of 2007
Source: blog
the new albanian aka: Roger Baylor plaintiff said: Is it not your responsibility to speak out and expose the patent dishonesty of Dan Coffey, Bill Schmidt, Larry Kochert, and Steve Price?
Source: blog
all4word aka: Randy Smith plaintiff said: CM Price's parents and teachers failed to inculcate in him even the barest inkling of the word "counterintuitive."
Source: blog
all4words aka: Randy Smith plaintiff said: And how anyone can project how the districts will be reapportioned is beyond me. And don't be coy, KT. Who do you know is crossing his or her fingers to be reapportioned to a new council district?
Source: blog
bluegill aka: Jeff Gillenwater plaintiff said: Although I did not and will not vote for Price, I feel compelled to apologize for his presence on the Council, if for no other reason than to let the rest of the city know that his behavior and ignorance don't accurately reflect the current intelligence and hopefulness of his district at all.
Source: blogthe new albanian aka: Roger Baylor plaintiff said: First Jeff Gahan was in bed with Dan Coffey (sewers), and now Steve Price (redistricting). Do they sell full body condoms down at Cleopatra's adult book store?
Source: blog
You be the Judge!
July 12, 2006: Newspaper"State code dictates that second-class cities such as New Albany must split into six council districts that, among other distinctions, must "contain as nearly, as nearly as is possible, equal population. "
August 12, 2007: Newspaper
"Beardsley wrote his plaintiffs asking for feedback, and Ulrich expects to discuss the proposal with the council in closed executive session if necessary. We've discussed some rough parameters said Ulrich. The prospect of the council - rather than a special panel appointed by a judge -drawing up the new districts boundaries did not appeal to Randy Smith. The proposal "would be less than a slap on the wrist...I doubt seriously that we're going to accept this," said Smith."
August 26, 2007: Newspaper
"Plaintiffs Jeff Gillenwater and Randy Smith accompanied attorney Stephen Beardsley; president Larry Kochert and attorney Jerry Ulrich represented the City Council. Beardsley's plaintiffs proposed weeks ago that the council redistrict by August 2008, after it hears advice from a five-member study group appointed by both sides. Those five people would be paid $50 a day and Beardsley paid a flat fee of $5,000, all out of city coffers. Friday afternoon, the council countered with a proposal reached at a closed meeting Tuesday. The council would draw the boundaries and vote on the issue, but by November of this year and without an advisory committee."
"Plaintiffs insisted that the negotiations take place in public meetings, and Ulrich and Kochert agreed."
"Hussman strode back and forth between two closed rooms containing the two parties as the clock crept toward 6 p.m. Finally, all six men convened in one room, than departed with news of the "agreement in principle." Smith called himself "very pleased...I think it's a great day for New Albany."
September 15, 2007: Newspaper
"The lawsuit is still in its pretrial phase and parties have an, "agreement in principle" in which the council will vote on new districts by November 22."
"However, plaintiffs say that if they don't like what the council approved, they would like to see a Dec. 3 trial commence. Those feelings were conveyed by resident Randy Smith during the hearing Friday. He complained that the districts proposed were not drawn by a residents' advisory group, but rather by council and behind closed doors."
"Floyd County Clerk Linda Moeller also spoke, urging the council not to approve a map in which political districts split precincts. Doing so would force the clerks office to have separate poll books, ballots and voting machines, she said, something that would cause unnecessary expense."
"Smith said that the law doesn't address trouble, confusion or expense. "it just says 'as equally as possible."
"In an interview after the meeting, Kochert said. Now that a hearing has taken place, the council will publicly discuss the map in upcoming council meetings before any vote is taken. Kochert said it was the charge of the City Council to draw the map, not a panel of residents. "They're wannabes," Kochert said. "They want to be leaders of the community. The law says that the council does the redistricting."
Calendar of Council Council Action on Redistricting Lawsuit 2007-2008:
October 9, 2007 - R07 -35A : pertains to Lawsuit about redistricting. Approved: 5 aye, 1 nay, 2 abstained
Source: Public record
December 20, 2007 - G07-19 an ordinance dividing the city into six Districts. Approved 5 to 3. G07-19 was approved by city council on December 27, 2007 and became Ordinance G07-59
Please note: According to our research of city council minutes, we did not find any council action that has rescinded G07-59 which divided the city into six districts.
1st DISTRICT which shall be composed of PRECINCTS 1, 2, 17, 21 and 23;
2nd DISTRICT which shall be composed of PRECINCTS 16, 18, 19, 22, and 29;
3rd DISTRICT which shall be composed of PRECINCTS 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10;
4th DISTRICT which shall be composed of PRECINCTS 11, 12, 13, 20, 24 and 25;
5th DISTRICT which shall be composed of PRECINCTS 9, 14, 15, 15(A), 26, and 28; and
6th DISTRICT which shall be composed of PRECINCTS 19(A), 19(B), 27, 27(A), 28(A) and 29(A).
So...We already have a Redistricting Ordinance on the books!
Footnote: Part 111 of: Is this Smithgate or Watergate?
