Posted on 01/05/2012 2:25:20 PM PST by floridarunner01
TALLAHASSEE — Florida's new redistricting standards, coupled with the 10-year shift in population, have forced Republicans to do what is rarely done in politics — sacrifice incumbents — and that is not going over well with some Republicans.
The possible casualties include U.S. Rep. Allen West, whose Broward to Palm Beach-based district would become more Democratic in every map proposed by both the state House and Senate.
Broward Republicans have launched a website — "saveallenwest.com." — and are mounting a campaign to pressure legislators to revamp the maps to make them more in line with what they believe are the legal requirements of the new Fair Districts amendments. The changes they suggest would also make the district more favorable to the re-election of West, one of two black Republicans in Congress.
"I don't believe when they drew this they were adequately trying to adhere to the constitutional requirements,'' said Richard DeNapoli, chairman of the Broward County Republican Party, who wrote an "open letter" to members of the House and Senate redistricting committees urging them to redraw the district.
The crux of his argument: The district arbitrarily reaches into west Broward, Democrat territory, to pick up West's home in Plantation but fails to keep compact a swath of the coast in northern Palm Beach County populated with Republicans.
West is not the only Republican to face a potentially tougher fight under the proposed maps. The districts of Republican congressmen Steve Southerland of Panama City, Sandy Adams of Orlando, Tom Rooney of Jupiter and David Rivera of Miami would continue to lean Republican but become more competitive for Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...
Make him VP. Problem solved.
Yeah ... God saw this one before the earth was formed.
Yeah ... God saw this one before the earth was formed.
I genuinely hope that Allan West has a job in the new administration.
Make him VP. Problem solved.
My thought. He is too special not to use in a special way!!!
Make him VP. Problem solved.
My thought. He is too special not to use in a special way!!!
Allen West will be #1 target for Debbie Wasserman Schultz in the adjoining district. She rans even ads against him in 2010.
redistricting doesn’t hurt incumbents, morphing into established politicians does. do what you were sent to do and the base will support you.
representation has grown too large and no one can represent the amount of people effectively. in order for our representation to work, more districts need to be formed. cut the price of salaries in half, double the size of the house of representatives. build a new facility in the middle of the country Lincoln Nebraska for example. have the states pay for housing and logding and staff and watch as coalitions need to be formed to build a better consensus.
yes it will never be done, but it would be a better way.
teeman
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