by Helen Sabin, Corvallis
Ten years seems like a long time and in terms of politics, it is. To reflect the growth or loss of population, according to the Census, Montana redraws the boundaries of its congressional districts. Ten years ago, redistricting favored Democrats without good reason. Rural Montana was combined with Urban Democratic areas to the detriment of the Rural population. These two parts of Montana had NOTHING in common – not culturally, philosophically, politically, socially, nor educationally. It was based mainly on a political division which it should NOT have been. Thus, the most conservative voice of Montana was silenced.
Now, due to the latest census, for the first time in 30 years, Montana will have TWO congressional districts – eastern and western. The Western part of Montana deserves a representative that reflects their values, their beliefs, and their lifestyle.
The current Congressional Representative for the entire state of Montana is Matt Rosendale. Running to win the second western seat is Republican, Ryan Zinke, and Democrat, Monica Tranel. Zinke should be the choice for WESTERN MONTANA and our way of life here. We do NOT need big-city, free-wheeling, liberal, Democratic, socialistic, values if you can call them that, controlling western rural life.
On November 12, 2021, the Montana Districting and Apportionment Commission (MDAC) chose a map from various ones submitted by interested parties and the commissioners voted 3-2 to approve it. The commission was made up of two Dems, two GOP and one “neutral” head commissioner who seems to be holding the line on being “neutral.” The two Democratic commissioners voted against it. Now, the commission is taking comments on maps for redistricting the State House of Representatives and Senate.
Nothing drastic was done on the chosen redistricting map and just one small change was done in Pondera County, giving a small portion of it to the “western” district. With the vote, the map was then to be sent to the Montana Secretary of State. Now, there are other maps being re-considered.
The Republican maps are different from the Democratic maps in the topic of “competitive districts.” The GOP approach is most obvious in urban cities because Republicans want to change the so-called “spoke-and-wheel” configurations of the 2010 maps that expanded Democratic-leaning districts from urban areas into surrounding suburban and rural regions. This was unfairness in action and meant to dilute the conservative voice of rural Montana. Politics which should have been a small part of this action played a major role.
Eastern and Western Montana cultures do NOT have much in common. Urban areas lean left while rural areas tend to lean right. Liberals do NOT believe in guns, God, the family, or the Bible like rural areas do, and they have a lack of patriotism for the country which they disdain and abuse.
The spoke-and-wheel approach diluted the political leanings of both areas but expanded the Democratic influence into rural Montana. This must stop! Rural Montana does NOT want the socialist, lifestyle of Urban Montana. The original map from November 2021 should be the one used.
A former small business owner in Ravalli County favors the Republican proposal. “There are two Montanas,” she states. “We are religiously, economically, socially, educationally, and culturally different – and it is as if there are two states,” she said. The redistricting should reflect the conservative voice of rural citizens including many voices that are “new.” According to pj media, (https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/athena-thorne/2022/08/24/voters-moving-to-the-right-across-almost-every-demographic-says-massive-survey-n1623811) voters are moving right, not left. They did NOT like the last redistricting and are now aking for fairness in representing the rural view of Montana. Keep Montana… Montana.
Most of the state, which is rural, is what makes money for the state, grows the food we eat, and it should be listened to. The Republican proposal is common sense and a fair way to set up the new district. It combines the best of all the four elements the commissioners considered, “We had the Democratic plan for ten years; it’s now our turn,” she exclaimed. “All we ask for is fairness and common sense. Is that too tough for the commission to achieve?”
Let your voice be heard. Attend a hearing or provide your comments several ways by going to mtredistricting.gov.