Opinion ID: 2515815
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: S48871, Kropf et al. v. Bradbury

Text: Kropf Petitioners challenge the Secretary of State's reapportionment plan as it applies to Linn County. They contend that the plan: (1) violates ORS 188.010(1)(a) because Senate District 12 and House District 23 contain counties that are not contiguous; (2) violates ORS 188.010(1)(c) because it fails to use existing geographic or political boundaries, specifically Linn County boundaries; (3) violates ORS 188.010(1)(d) because it divides communities of common interest; and (4) violates ORS 188.010(1)(e) because the part of Linn County placed in House District 23 is not connected to Yamhill County by transportation links. ORS 188.010(1)(a) requires only that the district be contiguous; it does not mention counties, much less require that every county within the district touch every other county. Kropf Petitioners' arguments regarding communities of common interest appear to be based on the unsupported assertion that the only communities of common interest that should be considered are those within Linn County. Transportation links are only one of the criteria that the Secretary of State must consider, and he did so. Kropf Petitioners point to nothing in the record that demonstrates that the Secretary of State did not consider the relevant criteria, nor do they show that the Secretary of State made choices that no reasonable Secretary of State would have made in drawing the Linn County districts.