Thirty-three Libertarian candidates for the General Assembly pledged today to support a nonpartisan redistricting process if elected. “Like the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians, we believe that voting maps should be drawn in a fair and impartial way that protects the freedom of voters to hold their government accountable and to have a say in who represents them,” the candidates said in a statement.
The platform of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina calls for “a redistricting process conducted by an independent, nonpartisan agency for all local, state, and federal districts. The process should be open and transparent. It should involve significant public input with the opportunity for citizens to weigh in on proposed district maps.”
Here is the full text of the candidates’ joint statement:
“North Carolina’s redistricting process allows whichever party controls the legislature to draw our congressional and legislative voting maps.
“The result: gerrymandered districts that unfairly favor one party or the other, which in turn leads to a lack of competition in our elections and no real voice for voters at the ballot box.
“Both parties have indulged in gerrymandering to benefit their own side and our democracy has suffered for it. It’s time for real reform.
“Like the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians, we believe that voting maps should be drawn in a fair and impartial way that protects the freedom of voters to hold their government accountable and to have a say in who represents them.
“We, the undersigned, Libertarian candidates for General Assembly pledge to sponsor or support a nonpartisan independent redistricting process in North Carolina.”
/signed/
Tim Harris, Senate 2, (919) 201-2602
Jesse Shearin, Senate 4, (252) 578-1627
Anthony Mascolo, Senate 8, (910) 550-0106
Ethan Bickley, Senate 9, (706) 951-9310
Richard Haygood, Senate 14, (910) 787-6466
Brian Lewis, Senate 15, (919) 798-0321
Brian Irving, Senate 16, (919) 538-4548
Bruce Basson, Senate 17, (317) 476-5186
Brad Hessel, Senate 18, (919) 278-7395
Jared Erickson, Senate 20, (919) 907-1454
R. Michael Jordan, Senate 30, (336) 402-9883
Mitchell Bridges, Senate 43, (704) 692-6187
Lyndon Smith, Senate 49, (919) 593-4715
T. Lee Horne, House 3, (318) 542-4445
Travis Groo, House 11, (404) 312-4392
Joseph Sharp, House 18, (678) 693-0788
David Perry, House 19, (910) 617-2873
Nick Taylor, House 25, (252) 567-8055
Walt Rabon, House 28, (919) 210-5704
Matthew Wagoner, House 30, (919) 471-5645
Erik Raudsep, House 31, (919) 720-1530
Cap Hayes, House 34, (910) 358-0650
Michael Nelson, House 35, (919) 413-7942
Robyn Pegram, House 36, (919) 924-4933
Guy Meilleur, House 37, (919) 906-0465
Bobby Emory, House 38, (919) 706-3144
Martin Matuszewski, House 39, (984) 500-9807
David Ulmer, House 40, (919) 539-9486
Jonathan Horst, House 49, (330) 231-9788
Matthew Clements, House 56, (919) 593-2119
Houston Barrow, House 65, (336) 589-7103
Michael Finn, House 67, (704) 794-5473
Steve Brenneis, House 91, (336) 456-3290
Submitted by: Brian Irving, Libertarian for North Carolina Senate 16 and Freelance Journalist, LibertyPoint.org