LETTER: Voter preference for GOP, not district maps, is Dems’ problem

To Ozaukee Press:

The lack of actionable solutions from Democrats, not gerrymandering, is one of the many reasons Republicans control the Wisconsin state Senate and Assembly.

As we look forward to the 2020 general election, we can expect the Democrats to advocate for a local referendum to change the Wisconsin redistricting process. They claim the political maps developed by the Republican controlled legislature during 2011 were unfair.

This predicted action by the left is just another example of their application of a strategy to disavow the results of elections. Elections have consequences.             The pattern has become all too predictable. When Democrats lose at the polls, they advocate for legislation through the courts. When that fails they continue with an unrelenting campaign to provide select and misleading, emotionally grounded information to sway public support.

Democrats blame their underwhelming success on unfair gerrymandering. Democrats recent success is limited to the Wisconsin governor race, one U.S. Senate race and success by their candidates within traditionally Democratic districts. Their rationale is that gerrymandering forced Republican control of the state Senate and Assembly. The facts don’t support the Democrats’ claim.

Recent elections merely reflect the longstanding sentiments of the voters. History shows support of Republicans who have controlled the Wisconsin Assembly 24 of the past 29 years and the Wisconsin Senate 18 of the past 29 years.

Wisconsin is trending more Republican, as seen by the support of President Trump and Sen. Ron Johnson, Republicans representing the majority of Wisconsin districts in the  House of Representatives and conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justices.

There is nothing unfair with the current state Legislature-led district map development process. Currently, 32 states draw their own maps without any binding or advisory role from an independent groups.         Within the guardrails of federal law and court precedent, elected officials should continue to provide district maps. This is the most transparent and accountable option.

Richard Sternhagen
Port Washington