BOUNTIFUL — With the census coming around again next year, a small group of concerned residents gathered at the South Branch Library, last Thursday, to push forward a Fair Boundaries initiative.

The Fair Boundaries project is looking to form an independent commission to oversee the redistricting process, rather than keeping it in the hands of the Legislature as it is now. Redistricting takes place after a census is completed.

“My husband served in Iraq,” said Andrea Miller, who led the meeting. “When he came back he wanted to do what he could to give the citizens of Utah the best government.”

The initiative provides for “anti-gerrymandering standards to keep communities with similar economic, geographic, and social factors intact.” It also creates an 11-member, independent redistricting commission made up of Utahns with partisan diversity.

“This will help us to get to know our legislators and make it more fair,” said Miller. “The big push is now because of the census next year.”

Participants voiced concern over current boundaries and the possibility of redistricting for political gain.

“It’s not advantageous to the legislators to undo what they do,” said Davis County resident, Larry Young. “If we don’t have some say now, we won’t have any choice.”

Miller explained that the initiative needs at least 10,000 signatures from registered Davis County voters to add to the rest of the state for it to be placed on the ballot in 2010.

“We’re hoping to have all the signatures before the snow flies,” she said.

North Salt Lake City Council member and attorney, Lisa Watts Baskin, helped draft the initiative. “That is my area of specialty,” said Watts Baskin. “This came up years ago but it didn’t move forward. Then it sort of ‘self resurrected’ and I was approached about six to nine months ago,” to help draft it.

“It’s not good to have the people who benefit from the boundaries draw them,” said local resident Dr. Raymond Ward, who came to find out more about the initiative.

Most in attendance left with packet in hand to gather signatures. “I’d like to see a two party system in Utah and I don’t think we have that here really,” said resident Ann Johnson. “If we don’t do anything, nothing will change.”