Franklin County residents join suit over redistricting maps

Several Franklin County residents concerned about redistricting maps drawn by Republican lawmakers joined House Democratic Caucus Chair Derrick Graham and the Kentucky Democratic Party in a lawsuit filed against Secretary of State Michael Adams, who serves as the state’s chief election official, and the Kentucky State Board of Elections in Franklin Circuit Court Thursday.

The plaintiffs in the suit also include former Franklin County Magistrate Jill Robinson, Mary Lynn Collins, Katima Smith-Willis and Joseph Smith.

In the lawsuit, they claim local residents would be disenfranchised by the “unconstitutional, partisan maps” and are challenging “the gerrymandered districts.”

Robinson stated that the redistricting “process was all about power and as a former elected official the toxicity of power is not good for democracy. When an elected official’s district has been drawn to assure their re-election they start to feel too comfortable in their position and they stop listening to constituents who express contrary views.”

Read more: https://www.state-journal.com/news/franklin-county-residents-join-suit-over-redistricting-maps/article_0528e0f2-7a3c-11ec-a5b9-53615cf8903e.html