OLBC President Rep. West statement after Redistricting Commission approves gerrymandered GOP map

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today issued the following statement after the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved on party lines state legislative maps proposed late last evening by Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima):

“I am deeply disappointed but not surprised that Republican members of the Commission ultimately chose late in the evening to push through partisan state legislative maps that meet neither the spirit nor the letter of the 2015 voter-approved reforms. These maps do not reflect Ohio’s statewide voting preferences, do not provide for fair representation, and do not give an adequate voice for Black and brown Ohioans. This plan highlights the majority’s blatant disregard of the Constitution and the will of the voters.

“It would seem that all the talk of wanting 10-year, bipartisan maps was not met with action or real intention from the majority party members of the Commission.”