In 2018, I was one of many volunteers collecting signatures to allow Better Boundaries’ redistricting initiative to be placed on the ballot. Most folks know by now that the initiative, Prop 4, passed into law. The law required an independent commission to draw several new maps and present them to the Legislature. The Legislature, however, ignored the commission’s maps (and the six weeks of unpaid work it took to create them) and — the next day — presented the even more gerrymandered map under discussion today.
I am writing not to rehash this, but to say that my signature gathering took me to Southern Utah. To Kanab, Escalante, Big Water, Tropic, Panguitch. I spoke with ranchers, farmers, small-business owners and families. And to my surprise, nearly everyone signed the petition. Why? Because they agreed that their representative had no business also representing “city folks.” Because they understood that when the same person is automatically elected over and over, they are unmotivated to do their best for their constituents. Because they thought maps that allowed competitive districts were MORE FAIR. Because Utahns are more thoughtful and less rigidly conservative than our Legislature.
Because Utahns try to do what is right.
Marjorie McCloy
Salt Lake City