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PHOTOS BY STACY GITTLEMAN
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Mark Brewer, former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, and Jocelyn Benson, former dean of Wayne State University Law School, held a panel discussion
moderated by Dr. Kevin Deegan-Krause, WSU professor of political science.
Deegan-Krause with his Lego display of the state’s
14th Congressional District
A Skewed Blueprint
A political party’s strength lies in redefined borders.
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
T
o best illustrate how and why Michigan politicians
created the most stretched, tilted and gerryman-
dered congressional district in the nation, Dr.
Kevin Deegan-Krause, Wayne State University professor
of political science, showed up at the Office Coffee Shop
in Royal Oak on Aug. 7 with a replica of the 14th District
made of Legos.
“The way our cities and towns are selectively inserted
and removed into districts to benefit one party over
another presents an elegant yet politically problem-
atic design,” Deegan-Krause said to a group of about
30 gathered for an event sponsored by the Joint Action
Committee for Political Affairs (JACII).
“Voters need to choose their politicians, not the other
way around.”
Deegan-Krause moderated a discussion with the eve-
ning’s other two speakers: Mark Brewer, former chair of
the Michigan Democratic Party, and Jocelyn Benson, for-
mer dean of Wayne State University Law School.
Snaking around from Pontiac across to Farmington
Hills and down to Harper Woods and Grosse Pointe
Farms, the state’s 14th Congressional District is one of
the most gerrymandered in the country. Created by a
Republican state legislature in 2011, it placed as many
Democrats into as few districts as possible — and wanted
to create two districts with black majorities to com-
ply with the interpretation of what the federal Voting
Rights Act required, according to a 2014 article by Jack
Lessenberry published in Dome magazine.
Benson echoed Deegan-Krause’s statement by saying
that the consequences of gerrymandering are felt when
the everyday needs of the voter — such as transportation,
infrastructure and healthcare — are not being repre-
sented and the minority party in the district wins by the
narrowest of margins.
“Are the people elected to make decisions that affect
our daily lives truly thinking about the constituents they
represent?” Benson asked. “More and more, they are not.
And when people feel their votes are not represented,
you see the results evident in low-voter turnout and an
increased amount of the population disengaging in the
democratic process.”
Brewer is preparing a federal lawsuit over partisan
redistricting in Michigan. In 2016, he was involved in a
recount of the presidential election, where Donald Trump
won Michigan by 10,000 more votes than Democrat
Hillary Clinton out of 4.8 million votes cast. Republicans
swept the state’s congressional districts, capturing nine of
14 seats statewide.
“Partisan district lines are an antiquated 200-year-
Way Elementary Reunion
Way Elementary School is turning
50 years old. Alumni are asked to
“Go Way Back” at the 50th anniversary
celebration from 6-8 p.m. on Friday,
Sept. 8, at the Way playground. All cur-
rent and former students, teachers,
staff, administrators, parents and com-
munity members are invited. The cel-
ebration includes classic cars, musical
entertainment, food trucks, ice cream,
carnival games, pictures and stories
from 50 years ago, and T-shirts and
caps for sale.
Attendees are invited to purchase a
commemorative brick, personalized with
their names or messages that will be a
part of the new path near the Fine Arts
Wing at Way this Fall. Purchase a $50 brick
14
August 24 • 2017
jn
today at www.wayelementarypto.com
(E-store tab).
Parking for the event is at Bloomfield
Hills High School. Shuttle buses will take
people to and from the event. •
old system that has become worse because of the wide
availability of data and the internet that gives even more
power to the politicians to draw districts exactly the way
they need them to remain in power,” Brewer said. “If we
can just redraw six-10 districts in our state, we will have a
more balanced legislature.”
Brewer said he is encouraged by a recent federal
court ruling in Wisconsin that concluded the state’s
Republican-led legislature crafted a plan for political dis-
trict boundaries that skewed election results to be favor-
able to Republican wins.
The event was part of a series of programs that the
non-partisan Jewish political action group organized in
recent months to inform how policy and legislation affect
people in their daily lives. The group is planning with the
national JACPAC for its annual Detroit event in the fall
featuring Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. Gary Peters,
both Democrats.
JACII member Brooke Bendix said she was pleased so
many came out to learn about gerrymandering and the
political process. By creating partnerships with the ACLU
and No Space for Hate, Bendix said her organization “was
able to cast a wider net of eager voters wanting to know
how they can make a difference.” •
Sweet
Greetings
What better way to wish
family and friends a
“Sweet and Healthy New
Year” than by sending a
jar of honey? For only $11
(plus $4 shipping per jar.),
Adat Shalom Synagogue’s
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honey anywhere in the USA
with a personalized card
wishing your recipients
“l’shanah tovah” and letting
them know a donation was made
in their honor to Adat Shalom. All
orders much be placed by Aug. 31.
Visit orthoney.com/ASF/ to order
your honey. Questions? Contact
Trudy Weiss, nannyweiss@gmail.
org. •