Thread by @jbalmert

Six of seven Ohio Redistricting Commission members are present. (@NirajAntani is filling in for @matthuffman1).

Michael Odioso, of Green Township, says media repeats GOP-bashing talking points. Creating this map isn't going to be easy and people should cut commission some slack

Christine Corba of @lwvdayton expresses concerns that maps don't meet constitutional requirements approved by voters. She brings up proportional language.
legislature.ohio.gov/laws/ohio-cons…

Mark Erhardt says he wanted Republicans and Democrats to work together on a map before the commission voted to accept one. He also wants commission members to look at citizens' maps.

.@FrankLaRose points out that Dayton is too populous to be kept intact.

Dayton City Commissioner Darryl Fairchild says Democrats are packed into one district and Republicans could win the others.

He would keep Kettering, Jefferson Twp, Huber Heights, Trotwood with city.

.@KeithFaber asking whether Fairchild would prefer to split Dayton (because the city's population exceeds a House district).

Fairchild says he'd rather keep two competitive House districts including surrounding cities with similar interests.

Kathleen Gmeiner, of Southwest Columbus, expresses concerns about House districts there. Also questions Senate district that includes Union County.

Matthew Krug suggests Dayton be divided, keeping the west with Trotwood and Jefferson Twp. and other half with eastern suburbs. Proposed 39th district includes Trotwood (Dem) with Preble County (GOP).

GOP map keeps more of Dayton together in 38th House district.

.@mialewis34 of @CommonCauseOhio: "You are basically saying we really don't care about fairness. We don't care about the law."
She says it's not too late to do the challenging work of bipartisan redistricting.

Collin Marozzi, a policy strategist with ACLU, says competitive districts are not a requirement of the Ohio Constitution. That should be a goal.

Faber gets at a central question: should maps be competitive or proportional to statewide election results. Can be at odds.

Chantel Raghu, Oxford City Councilor, testified about her House district, which was previously represented by Rep. Candice Keller. Raghu says even the former lawmaker's own party opposed her behavior.

Pari Sabety, former Ohio budget director, questions why the "u-shaped" district 7 was drawn. It divides several communities and includes one street (East Cooke Road) that shifts from 7 to 8 to 7 back to 8.

davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::…

Matthew Baron Chapman, of West Chester: "What was exciting to me 8 years ago to move to Ohio was that it was a purple state and there was going to be robust conversation between Democrats and Republicans about is the best way to govern...

... And what you're doing now is getting rid of all that competition and you're allowing the crazies and the extremes from your parties to dictate what happens. We don't want that. We just want something in the middle, something to talk about."

A couple of references to GOP-invited testimony of Dr. Sherri Tenpenny who falsely claimed COVID-19 vaccines magnetize people as an example of how far Ohio Statehouse can drift from the middle/Ohioans' wishes. dispatch.com/story/news/202…

Witness asks commission whether the public will see the revised maps before they are voted on.
@SpeakerCupp says there's no requirement to have more hearings; map must be done by Wednesday deadline.
@DrVernonSykes the commission is still struggling with sharing info promptly

Jocelyn Rhynard, a member of the Dayton School Board, says Montgomery County, which voted 50% for Biden-48% Trump, would have four GOP House districts and one Democratic one. Both Senate districts would lean GOP.

Amina Wase, 17, of Centerville, speaks about the problem with dividing the Muslim community.

"I feel really hopeless, honestly, and I'm not even old enough to vote yet. My community right now is split, my Muslim community is split."

Dayton hearing of the Ohio Redistricting Commission is adjourned after about five hours of testimony.