A public hearing is planned for May 9 with a final vote coming as early as the next day - a clear sign to the public about the value placed on its comments. Defenders of the plan, which is the product of a bipartisan panel of 15 legislators, take pains to note some of the problems they had to contend with. Census numbers were late coming in. After 10 years in place, existing districts are drastically out of balance, as population losses have affected some areas more severely than others. Giambra has raised the threat of a veto, which could mean districts will not be settled until weeks after legislators need to begin circulating petitions for this year's elections.
Time is in short supply and legislators have only a few weeks to act.
It was no secret that census numbers would be late this year. In preparation, lawmakers could have started work with preliminary numbers. They could have made an early effort to draw the public into this important process. They could have posted information on the county Web site. They could have worked with the county executive.