Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Wants to 'Terminate' Gerrymandering
On Sunday, as the “Arnold Classic” was winding down in Columbus, Governor Schwarzenegger held a press event to offer his strong support for the Citizens Not Politicians campaign to end the illegal practice of Gerrymandering in Ohio. The "Terminate Gerrymandering" event was held as petitioners are covering the state to collect signatures to place an Ohio constitutional amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot that would replace the Ohio Redistricting Commission and the current way of drawing Ohio House and Senate and congressional districts with an Independent Commission.
The age of Gerrymandering would end with an Independent Commission as politicians would be replaced with a 15-member citizen commission — five Republicans, five Democrats, and five independents. The amendment makes clear that current and former politicians, political party officials and lobbyists would be banned from serving on the new Commission.
Schwarzenegger said he didn't know much about redistricting when he was elected California's governor in 2003. "I started getting into it," Schwarzenegger said. And he said what he found was politicians and extremists from both parties were dominating the process at the expense of progress, collaboration and moderation. After changing California’s process with an Independent Commission, the Governor said that more cooperation and civility took hold to the benefit of the state and its people.
"They'll draw it in a way where their job is secure," he said of politicians. "How many times did the court have to tell them they screwed up?" Schwarzenegger said. "They intentionally draw it to screw you. When there is no competition, there is no performance. Very simple."