DAVIS COUNTY — It may still be 2009, but some Davis County residents are already looking ahead to the 2011 Legislative session.

A campaign called “Fair Boundaries” is in the works to bring about an initiative for a nonpartisan commission to change the way legislative districts are formed. Currently, the process is done by the Legislature. But the group believes it has fallen along party lines rather that being done in the best interest of those in the district.

“The boundaries should be drawn by an independent citizen group to keep cities intact,” said Davis County group leader Randy Miller. “It’s (the initiative) a measure to keep things more fair while being blind to party affiliation.”

Redistricting takes place after a census is completed. The next census is in 2010. Fair Boundaries must have at least 10,000 voter signatures by March to get the initiative on the ballot for 2010. If it passes, the 2011 Legislature would work with the citizen commission on recommendations for district boundaries.

“The Utah Constitution gives authority to the Legislature to redistrict,” said Miller. “The commission would draw up their plan but the Legislature would still have the authority to adopt it. However, they would have to demonstrate why they made their decision based on the same scoring matrix the commission will follow.”

This is a statewide effort, and Miller said there are some districts outside of Davis County that really have problems.

“Moab is divided and shouldn’t be, it’s a small town,” he said. “There are some cities that are divided right down the middle. They shouldn’t have to be split. Tooele is divided into four different districts, and none of its representatives actually live in Tooele. I don’t think he’s even visited Tooele.”

Miller said the initiative sets standards for anti-gerrymandering to prevent districts from becoming a “safe zone” for legislators.

“They can manipulate the outcome before the elections,” he said. “Why compromise if you think you’re in a safe district? This way, they (legislators) would have to actually go out and meet voters, not just do the party thing.”

Miller said some incumbents don’t like the idea but both Reps. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, and Becky Edwards, R-North Salt Lake, see some merit in the initiative.

“It is very difficult to get an initiative on the ballot in Utah,” said Allen. “If they can get this on it will show the strong will of the people. With an independent commission’s recommendations, the Legislature will really have to justify its actions.”

Allen said she was involved in redistricting several years ago and believes it could have been done better.

“There was a scathing editorial about Utah in the Wall Street Journal,” and how awful our districting was, she said. “Most of the legislators don’t support it, but I see some merit.”

Edwards agreed. “This is an interesting and timely issue, especially in my district,” she said. “My district was redistricted last time and some people in Salt Lake County were put into my district. They were not pleased. Some of them are extremely animated about fairness in the process.”

She believes it is a discussion that needs to take place. “Positive things can come out and shine a light on this issue,” said Edwards. “If people go through this process to get an initiative on the ballot it is empowering. It is good anytime you educate people and they get involved.”

Fair Boundaries will be holding two meetings to discuss the initiative, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Clearfield Library, and Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. in the Bountiful Library.

bginos@davisclipper.com