There's no need for discussion. Members of the African American Coalition for Empowerment, or ACE, and the Latino Redistricting Committee each said they are prepared to challenge the county's plan in court if the board does not provide a satisfactory compromise. I think it is of paramount importance. If you think about it, redistricting exists in our constitution in a way to reset democracy every 10 years. What's being reset is power.
Power is who controls the purse strings.
Ament's veto came just days after supervisors James White and Joe Davis Sr. threatened to seek the ouster of County Board Chairman Karen Ordinans, who supported the county's initial plan, if it isn't modified to include more Hispanics in the 8th District. Ament said the letter did not influence his decision. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on May 31, 2001. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.