The Alaska Redistricting Board released its draft reapportionment plan this week. The board is charged under the Alaska Constitution to reconfigure election districts every 10 years to reflect the federal census. The 2010 Census reported Southeast’s population at 71, 664, a 2% population decline since 2000. The numbers also show that while the Southeast population had decreased, other regions of Alaska are growing. During the past decade Alaska’s population grew nearly 13%.
These shifting demographics will lead to changes in our region’s representation in the legislature and the shape of our electoral districts. The board has presented a draft plan for Southeast and alternate option. Both plans substantially alter current districts, going so far as to pair Ketchikan and Delta Junction or Kodiak in the same Senate District.
During the next two months the board will take testimony on the proposal before finalizing their plan later this summer. Several public meetings are scheduled for Southeast including:
Sitka – April 29th
Centennial Hall
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Craig – April 30th
Craig High School Library
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ketchikan – April 30th
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly Chambers
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wrangell – May 2nd
Nolan Center
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Petersburg – May 3rd
Petersburg City Council Chambers
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Skagway – May 4th
Skagway Assembly Chambers
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Haines – May 4th
Haines Borough Public Library
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Angoon – May 5th
Angoon Elementary School
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Hoonah – May 5th
Hoonah City Council Chambers
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The redistricting process has wide-ranging consequences for Southeast Alaska, and I hope Alaskans will express their views as part of the public process.
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