Redistricting board introduces various plans for state districts

The Alaska redistricting board is busy posting their proposed maps and scheduling community meetings around the state.  By following the state Constitution, the timeline is fast.  The Board has until May 6^th to hold community meetings.  A statewide teleconference will be held that day and the Board then holds public work sessions starting May 16^th to draft the final plan for adoption by June 13^th.

Several proposals have been submitted as well as the board proposals themselves:  the Bush Caucus has Trapper Creek and Petersville in a different  district than Talkeetna, with the dividing line looking like the Alaska Railroad.  Which could mean that some people in Talkeetna would vote in one district and others in another district, although the plans are unclear at this point.  Talkeetna residents would be in the same district as Valdez and Homer.

One Redistricting Board plan puts Talkeetna and Trapper Creek into the same district as Valdez and Cordova.    Another board option appears to put Trapper Creek and Skwentna in the same district as the eastern section of Denali Highway, but puts Talkeetna in the same district as Valdez.

Another proposed map puts some of Trapper Creek and Skwentna in the same district as Port MacKenzie and Houston, while residents on the east side of the Parks Highway, Talkeetna and Susitna are in the district with Delta Junction and Valdez

Alaskans for Fair Redistricting keeps the Talkeetna and Trapper Creek area similar to what is has been in the past, making some changes in Cook Inlet.

The redistricting meeting in Palmer is tentatively scheduled on Monday, April 25^th.  Meetings will be held in Healy, Fairbanks, Tok, Glennallen and Seward as well as Anchorage.