[EL] AZ Redistricting Commission update

[Douglas Johnson]

Independent Redistricting Commissions continue to struggle with staffing
controversies, this time in Arizona. The Commission there turned down a bid
led by National Demographics (my firm), with Dr. Bruce Cain as the team's
competitiveness expert and Dr. Lisa Handley as Racially Polarized Voting
consultant. The Commission cited unspecified allegations that the team is
too Republican. (Yes, you read that correctly, Dr. Cain's now been treated
as a Democratic boogeyman in California and as part of a Republican
boogeyman team in AZ). 

 

The controversy exploded in a three hour public comment period because the
Commission selected Ken Strasma and Strategic Telemetry as their
redistricting consultant. Strasma's previous employment was Policy Director
of the National Committee for an Effective Congress, and Strategic Telemetry
is the micro-targeting consultant to both the Obama for President campaign
and for the Union/Democratic recall campaigns in Wisconsin. The later was
disclosed (and the Commission Chair, an Independent, declared that "not
something I view as a negative"), but as the bids have not yet been released
it is unknown whether Strasma disclosed his prior role with NCEC.

 

The Chair's statement on why she chose Strategic Telemetry is posted here:
http://www.azredistricting.org/docs/Meeting-Info/Mathis-Comments-062911.pdf

 

- Doug

 

Douglas Johnson

President

National Demographics Corporation (NDC)

djohnson at NDCresearch.com

m 310-200-2058

 

 

 

 

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