Five full representatives, two senators for M

Representatives from the Alaska Redistricting Board held a public hearing today (April 25) in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska’s only Borough that has grown 50 percent in the last decade. Borough officials and others asked the Board for five full representatives to reflect the constant growth.

Testimony centered on two draft plans the Board released April 13, which propose new legislative boundaries in Alaska in response to the 2010 Census.

Acting Matanuska-Susitna Borough Manager Elizabeth Gray highlighted the growth of the Mat-Su and the needed representation for the challenges that accompany such growth.

“The Mat-Su population from the 2010 Census is 88,995, which based on the target population of 17,755 per district would account for five full representatives, one shared representative, two full senators and one shared senator. So on behalf of the MAT-SU Borough Assembly I respectfully request that the Board consider the Borough’s past consistent growth and anticipated future growth as you draft the state’s redistricting plan.”

Click player on upper right to listen to Manager Gray.

Matanuska-Susitna Mayor Larry DeVilbiss said the Board’s two plans don’t work.

“The Assembly asked me to deliver the message that we don’t feel that either option 1 or option 2 serve the Borough. It fragments our representation and we don’t think follows the rules of compaction,” DeVilbiss said.

Assembly Member Noel Woods told the Board he has seen a lot of change living here since 1945. Woods said the Borough staff did an excellent job at reapportioning Assembly districts in a draft plan that was forwarded to the Board. Woods asked the Board to really consider the district lines as it draws final legislative boundaries.

Many citizens spoke against the Board’s plans. Among them Jim Sykes and Darcie Salmon. Hear excerpts from their testimony below.

Click player on upper right to hear resident Darcie Salmon.

Click player on upper right to hear resident Jim Sykes.

The Alaska Redistricting Board is holding a statewide teleconference on May 6 from 9 am to noon and from 2 pm until 6 pm.

For more information call Acting Borough Manager Elizabeth Gray at 745-9687 or Patty Sullivan at 745-9577, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.