Michigan’s newly created ‘independent’ Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is proposing new congressional and state legislative district maps. It was supposed to stop the “gerrymandering,” and to create districts that “make sense” and respect communities of interest.

The commission has intentionally carved up counties, including Midland County, into multiple Congressional districts, severely diminishing our voice in Washington. They literally carved out the City of Midland from the rest of Midland County and included it with Flint, 60 miles south of Midland! The very essence of gerrymandering!

MIDLAND COUNTY BELONGS WITH GLADWIN

The commission is acting in a way that intentionally separates communities from each other.

The proposed maps hinder our region’s ability to adequately:

• Address flood reduction and dam repair.
• Receive federal grant dollars for our Health Care System.
• Promote Tax and Energy Policies that drive Mid-Michigan’s economy.
• Increase internet access by expanding rural broadband.

As a result, our collaborative efforts to rebuild Midland and Gladwin counties after a devasting flood will be diminished.

We ask the commission to change their map according to the following:

• Acknowledge the entire counties of Midland and Gladwin as one community of interest.
• Keep Midland County whole and connected to Gladwin.
• Keep the Tittabawassee watershed communities of Midland, Gladwin, Isabella, and Clare counties together.
• Preserve and respect current geographic boundaries, specifically county lines, for small counties less than 100,000 people.
• Use the Lange Map as a template; but a minor tweak to the Apple or Birch map will also address this request.

Keeping Midland County whole and connected to Gladwin makes sense, and it ensures that we are represented fairly and that our voice will be heard in Washington.

You have an opportunity to fight this injustice to our community. Make your voice heard by adding your name to this petition! Tell the Redistricting Commission that they are diluting the voices of both Midland and Flint by combining us into one congressional district.

Additional Information:

Midland, Gladwin region awarded $54M to aid in flood recovery, mitigation (detroitnews.com)

Commissioners: Gladwin and Midland deserve unified representation (ourmidland.com)

Letter to editor: Dems put politics over community (ourmidland.com)

Redistricting commission is 'not so independent' (ourmidland.com)

Visit the MICRC Public Comment Portal at: https://www.michigan-mapping.org/