From a press release:
PEORIA — The Illinois Fair Map Amendment will be the subject of a rally and talk at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Childers Banquet Center at 3113 Dries Lane at Forrest Hill in Peoria.
The event officially begins the central Illinois drive to collect petitions to place the amendment proposal on the November election ballot. If approved by the voters, it will require that redistricting for the Illinois General Assembly by conducted by an independent commission, and not the legislators themselves, as occurs now.
Speakers will be Jan Czarnik and Brad McMillan.
Czarnik is executive director of the Illinois League of Women Voters. She is an expert in election law and worked to pass Illinois early voting and deputy registrar laws. McMillan, a former aide to Cong. Ray LaHood, now directs the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Studies at Bradley University.
Petitions will be available for signing and for passing. The League, in a coalition with other groups in Illinois, hopes to gain 500,000 signatures by April 1 to place the proposal on the ballot.
This a meeting where breakfast is optional, at about $10. The sponsor of the event, the Greater Peoria League of Women Voters will appreciate reservations, which can be made by calling 309/674-5313 or sending an email to ehopkins7@prodigy.net.
The event is free and open to the public and the press. Information on the amendment is available at www.ilfairmap.com.
CJ – the radio said today this started at 9:30.
did anyone attend this meeting? I’d love to know how it went–I was out of state but think ending gerrymandering is needed in our state badly.
I was there. About 50 or more people. Dems and Repubs. Very bi-partisan effort. Headed up by the league of Women voters. Senator Dale Risinger spoke. He was very motivating. Brad McMillan spoke. Very knowlegable and committed to this movement. This is a state-wide effort and petitions are being passed all across the state. Make sure you sign one or better yet, pass one. Lots of questions and the participants were very engaged. I think it will happen.
Keep checking Peoriastory.com. Elaine was there taking a lot of notes. I think she will do a fairly lenthgy piece on it.