LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Two members serving on the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission are under legal review for living out of state for more than a year.
A constitutional amendment passed in 2018 “[establishes] a commission of citizens with exclusive authority to adopt district boundaries for the Michigan Senate, Michigan House of Representatives and U.S. Congress, every 10 years.” The Michigan constitution now grants the independent commission of citizens the power to draw district lines for the Michigan Legislature and Michigan’s members of Congress for the 2022 election and beyond.
What is the commission?
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The commission is comprised of thirteen members, nearly equal parts Democrat, Republican, and neutral members. Commissioners Douglas Clark (R) and Dustin Witjes (D), were recently revealed to be living out of state, Clark to California for health related reasons and Witjes to Illinois for a new job.
According to documents regarding the commission, commissioners are required to attend monthly meetings and according to the Michigan Constitution requires that “commissioners receive compensation equal to 25 percent of the Governor’s salary, which amounts to approximately $40,000.”
The attorney representing the commission, Nathan Fink, said that he is still reviewing their residencies in other states to ensure they are in compliance with the constitution. Both remain registered voters in the state of Michigan according to the Detroit News.
State Representative Takes Inquiry to AG Nessel
State Representative Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) has reached out to Secretary of State Dana Nessel, inquiring about the two commissioners and the direction the state would be taking to investigate their actions.
“I ask that you look into this matter concerning these individuals’ eligibility to remain on the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and their ability to make decisions that impact millions of Michiganders while they live in other states,” said Rep. Bollin. “I also urge you to perform an audit of the state’s voter rolls to identify other absentee Michiganders who have homes, jobs and may have relocated their entire family to other states but still possess a Michigan voter registration.”
Rep. Bollin also asked several questions on behalf of her constituents, including:
- Is it permissible for these individuals to continue to collect paychecks as members of the commission while not residing in the state? Please also consider if these absent commissioners are abiding by the spirit of Proposal 2 of 2018.
- Did your office review the eligibility of these members when they first departed the state?
- How many other individuals are working, living, and conducting their daily lives as residents of other states while still casting votes on important matters facing the people of Michigan?
What about transparency?
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In addition, Rep. Bollin shared her concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the members’ new living arrangements, and how they have “removed themselves from the consequences of any decision they make as members of the commission.”
“Both commissioners have maintained their voter registration in our state despite residing in other states, paying taxes in other states, and – in the case of one individual – switching their driver’s license to another state,” Rep. Bollin said in the letter. “This raises concerns about whether these individuals are maintaining their status as members of the commission simply to collect a paycheck.”
A full copy of Rep. Bollin’s letter can be found here.
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