Lake County Gazette

Political gerrymandering as the result of flawed district map-drawing processes is an issue in Lake County that requires attention, according to the chairman of the Fremont Township Republican Organization in Mundelein.

“I think it’s a problem,” Glenn Garamoni told the Lake County Gazette. “I don’t think the state legislature should be in charge of drawing the maps. It should be done a different way, perhaps some kind of commission that would be represented by members of both parties.”

Those hoping that the Supreme Court might provide direction on the issue were recently dealt a setback when the high court ruled partisan redistricting is a political issue and not a question for the federal courts, even when it comes to the debate of whether extreme gerrymandering violates the Constitution. Pertaining to the 5-4 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts spoke for the conservative majority. 

Fremont Township Republican Organization Chairman Glenn Garamoni | Facebook

"We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts," Roberts wrote in the ruling. "Federal judges have no license to reallocate political power between the two major political parties, with no plausible grant of authority in the Constitution, and no legal standards to limit and direct their decisions."

Garamoni argues that something has to give in Lake County.

“I don’t think the will of the people is being served,” he said. “If you look at the maps of these districts, it’s just ridiculous. They stretch for many miles and they go in and out of the neighborhoods. I think that’s being done intentionally. I would say maybe the answer is to divide it up into the squares by population and that would be your district."

One remedy being proposed by Republicans is HJRCA, a measure that would remove map-making authority from state legislators and turn it over to an independent commission.