Virginia panel to review legislative, congressional redistricting plans

richmond - Gov. Robert F. McDonnell announced Monday the creation of a bipartisan advisory commission on redistricting months before Virginia attempts to redraw its legislative and congressional districts.

McDonnell (R) included as advisers the state's leading proponents of redistricting as he sought to make good on his promise to support bipartisan redistricting during the gubernatorial campaign, breaking with Republicans in the House.

The commission will be composed of 11 members with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, two former judges, one former federal judge nominated by a Republican president and one former state judge initially elected by a Democratic-led legislature and an independent chairman.

"As Virginia redraws its legislative districts later this year, the process should take place in a manner that is fair and open," McDonnell said in a statement. "Legislative districts should be drawn in a way that reflects commonsense geographic boundaries and communities of interests as required by law. This bipartisan redistricting commission will contribute to public involvement, openness and fairness in the redistricting process."

McDonnell failed to support any redistricting bills in the General Assembly last year. A GOP-controlled House of Delegates subcommittee killed a bill that would have created a seven-member bipartisan commission to redraw districts.

McDonnell's commission will create and review proposed redistricting plans for the House, Senate and congressional districts. It will then recommend plans that meet the required criteria to the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-led Senate.

Brian Moran, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, credited McDonnell for creating the commission and choosing "good public servants" with varied backgrounds.

"It is unfortunate that the governor did not see fit to give this well-qualified commission more power to influence the outcome of this process," Moran said. "Without that authority, there does not seem to be much hope that Republican legislators will adopt the commission's recommendations, no matter how good they are."