High-stakes redistricting chore begins

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Every 10 years, a requirement to redraw legislative and congressional districts produces a major headache for lawmakers in Oklahoma and states across the nation.

In 2001, the redistricting stakes are higher than ever in Oklahoma because of two factors: the state is expected to lose a congressmen and Republicans are charging hard toward a legislative majority, at least in the state House.

Although the session is two months away and the top leaders of the House and Senate have yet to be formally elected, work on redistricting already is under way.

"It's going to be a mammoth undertaking, but we will have to do it whether we want to or not," said veteran Rep. Bill Paulk, D-Oklahoma City, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's one-man, one-vote rule.

Paulk was selected last week by Speaker-designate Larry Adair to be chairman of the House redistricting panel.

Both Paulk and Sen. Mike Morgan, chairman of the Senate reapportionment panel, said their goal will be to complete the redistricting process by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May -- the deadline for lawmakers to adjourn.

That's despite some ambiguity in the Oklahoma Constitution, which says that legislative redistricting must be done in 90 legislative working days after U.S. Census figures are released, but does not set a timetable for congressional changes.

Both Paulk and Morgan, D-Stillwater, believe that lawmakers, in a pinch, could redraw federal boundaries at a special legislative session after adjournment of the regular one.

"I understand we have an absolute deadline regarding legislative districts," Morgan said. "The congressional districts can drift over, but we want to avoid that. Our goal is to have it all done before we adjourn sine die."

Speculation already has begun about what Democrats will be trying to accomplish in their quest to remain the majority party.

Republicans picked up eight seats in the House in November to up their membership to 48, compared with 53 Democrats. Republicans still trail Democrats in the Senate, 33-18.

"I think what is going to happen is that at least two state Senate seats and probably four House seats are going to move into Republican areas," said state GOP chairman Steve Edwards.

The shifts will be mainly to the large urban centers -- Oklahoma City and Tulsa, he said.

As far as Congress, he thinks Democrats will try to create two "safe" Democratic districts and be content with Republicans holding a 3-2 edge in the congressional delegation, compared with their current 5-1 advantage.

Democrat Brad Carson of Claremore was elected 2nd District congressman in November, keeping Democrats from being shut out in Washington. Carson replaces retiring Republican Rep. Tom Coburn of Muskogee.

Paulk said he will endeavor to draw districts "for the benefit of the people and not the representatives."

He says history shows political gerrymandering does not always work.

"Ten years ago, I served on the redistricting committee and, quiet honestly, we carved out a safe district for Republican Mickey Edwards. We carved out what we thought was a politically expedient district for Dave McCurdy that included Fort Sill at Lawton and Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City.

"We also worked to give Glenn English a district that covered the Panhandle and also south Oklahoma City. So it was obviously gerrymandering from the word go.

"What happened, however, is that almost immediately Mickey Edwards was gone. Glenn English was gone and Dave McCurdy was gone.

So the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray."

Edwards' exit from Washington was hastened by a controversy over banking and postal privileges of congressmen. McCurdy gave up his House seat for an ill-fated run for the U.S. Senate and English left Congress.

Republican Frank Lucas was elected to English's 6th District post in 1994, which also saw Coburn surprise Democrats in the 2nd District and Republican J.C. Watts win election to McCurdy's 4th District position.

Republican Ernest Istook replaced Edwards in the 5th District, which was changed in 1990 to stretch from Oklahoma City to the Kansas border, taking in heavily Republican areas.

The upcoming redistricting process will be political, but Paulk notes that any plan must pass both the House and Senate and go to the desk of Republican Gov. Frank Keating, for his signature or rejection.

"Like any other kind of legislation, there will have to be give and take," Paulk said.

Morgan said he is ready for the challenge, but wasn't expecting it. He learned he was the choice of Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor the day after the Nov. 7 general election saw the defeat of Sen. Ben Brown, D-Oklahoma City, who had been working on the project.

"I asked Senator Taylor if he was mad at me," Morgan quipped.

"I knew immediately that I had a lot to learn. I guess that's what legislative service is all about -- on-the-job training."