Citizen Redistricting

Think you got what it takes to be on Santa Fe's first-ever independent redistricting commission?

Earlier this year, Santa Fe voters approved a change to the city charter calling for an appointed group of citizens to take on the tough task redrawing the city's voting districts. This group will replace the city council, which until now oversaw redistricting.

Under federal law, voting districts have to be as proportionate to each other in population as possible. Every ten years, voting lines must be redrawn to do so.

Though Santa Fe went through this in 2011, the city just added 13,000 new residents in annexations in the southwest part of town this year. That leaves the city's Southside districts with more voters than the other districts around town, making another round of redistricting a priority.

The last time Santa Fe went through the heady process of redistricting, then-city Councilor Miguel Chavez accused the rest of the governing body of approving a plan that placed him in a new district—the same one as Patti Bushee, whom he would have had to run against to retain his seat. Chavez, who often sided with Bushee on issues and clashed with other councilors, called shenanigans. Bushee voted against the new plan with him to no avail. Chavez has since been elected to the Santa Fe County Commission.

Now, per guidelines from Santa Fe voters, the city will appoint a seven-member Citizens Redistricting Commission from the public to oversee the latest redistricting plan as a means to eliminate politics from the process.

Applications to be on that board are open through Jan. 15. According to the city's website, to qualify for the commission you cannot be:

—An elected government official.

—Related by blood or marriage within the second degree to an elected official.

—An elected city official within the last five years.

—A candidate for city official within the last five years.

—A city employee or current employee of any organizations representing any "employee bargaining unit" for employees of the city.

—An officer in a nonprofit that participates in the electoral process through endorsements of candidates.

—An officer in a political committee.

—A paid campaign worker or paid campaign consultant for an elected city official within the last five years.

At the end of January, applicants will then be decided by a random draw. Seven members will be selected, plus an alternate for each position. More qualifications are listed here.

Santa Fe Reporter