Thread by @LauraRBelin

Meeting scheduled to start in less than 10 minutes. Only agenda item is electing a fifth member (the other four members were selected by the top Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa House and Senate). #Iowa #redistricting

https://twitter.com/LauraRBelin/status/1427385614547181568

Ian Russell (one of the Democratic members of the Temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission) nominated Sue Lerdal to be the 5th member and chairperson of TRAC. Seconded by David Roederer, one of the Republican members.

Unanimous vote to elect Sue Lerdal to Iowa's Temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission. She was a longtime employee of @IowaLSA and knows the staffers who will draw up proposed nonpartisan maps.

Sue Lerdal says she "grew up a county auditor's kid" so has been involved with elections for many years. Helped her dad set up voting machines.
(Earlier this year, TRAC members could not agree on a 5th member; Republicans insisted on former House chief clerk Carmine Boal.)

Ed Cook of @IowaLSA says they plan to submit the first set of nonpartisan maps on Thursday, September 16.
TRAC then has to hold public hearings. #ialegis can't vote on maps until after TRAC submits a report.

This is big news--#Iowa's constitution says that if new legislative maps have not been adopted by September 15, the Iowa Supreme Court takes over authority for legislative redistricting.
But apparently everyone's assuming state House and Senate will vote on plans in late Sept.

Ed Cook says public will be able to make comments online after @IowaLSA releases legislative and Congressional maps. One of TRAC's responsibilities is to report to #ialegis on the public feedback about the map.

In the past, TRAC has organized in-person meetings in different parts of Iowa. Ed Cook says not clear whether on-site meetings make sense now, given the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Roederer raised some concerns about the timing. Important to get this right since the map will be in place for a decade.
Ed Cook explained that in 2011, the TRAC finished its work (holding public hearings, submitting report to #ialegis) in 11 days.

Ed Cook said he doesn't know when #ialegis plans to meet to vote on new maps.
If they follow the 2011 pattern, TRAC could finish its work by September 27 and then the legislature could come in three days later.

Chris Hagenow wants to know the statutory timeline after TRAC submits its report to #ialegis. Ed Cook says under code, legislature is supposed to deal with it "expeditiously" but that is not defined. They have to wait at least 3 days after receiving TRAC's report.

Jazmin Newton (a Democratic member who replaced Deidre DeJear on TRAC) asked when @IowaLSA will release map to #ialegis. Ed Cook says it has generally taken LSA at least 30 days to complete the first plan. In 2011 they took 45 days.

Ed Cook says it's possible they could submit a plan to #ialegis before September 16 but it likely wouldn't be much before then. They are already on a compressed timeline.
Roederer asked for clarification on statutory deadlines.

Ed Cook explains that Iowa Constitution gives Iowa Supreme Court authority over legislative redistricting after September 15. There is no similar deadline for Congressional districting.
State law gives LSA deadlines for submitting 1st plan (45 days of getting census data).

Many of us have been asking Iowa Supreme Court how they will handle legislative redistricting. #ialegis leaders have suggested they plan to vote on new maps but judicial branch won't confirm whether Supreme Court justices have given private assurances to lawmakers.

#Iowa's Temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission will meet again next week to discuss details such as a public hearing schedule and whether to hold in-person hearings after LSA has released first redistricting plan.

Commission adjourned.