Court Opinion

ID: 9786759
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 00:02:17.738489+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:36:48.406182
License: Public Domain

Justice KIDWELL,
Specially Concurring.
While I agree with the analysis and holding of the majority opinion, I write separately because I believe it is necessary to go further and address two of Petitioners Smith’s additional claims.
Petitioners Smith contends that Commissioner Dean Haagenson should not have served on the Commission because he is serving as Chairman of the Board for the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry (IACI). According to its website, IACI’s purpose is to serve as “Idaho’s most influential business lobby — representing businesses, chambers, and associations statewide on public policy issues in the Idaho Legislature.” Petitioners argue his appointment violates I.C. § 72-1502, which prohibits anyone who is or has been a registered lobbyist within the past year from serving on the Commission.
As the majority opinion points out, Haagenson does not violate the literal language of the statute. However, I believe his appointment to the Commission goes against the intent and spirit of the law. The statute was passed to prevent those having a stake in the legislature’s composition from being a part of the entity responsible for reapportioning Idaho.
Petitioners Smith also argue that I.C. § 72-1505(4) was violated because they were not given an opportunity to view and discuss L66, the plan ultimately adopted by the Commission. They further assert that although the Commission held meetings around the state, the meetings were held before proposed plans were available for discussion. Idaho Code section 72-1505(4) states that “the commission shall hold meetings in different locations in the state in order to maximize the opportunity for public participation.”
The Commission complied with the literal language of the statute by holding meetings throughout Idaho, but did not fulfill the spirit of I.C. § 72-1505(4). At no time during the Commission’s deliberations was L66 placed before the public for review — in fact, it was adopted at the last minute behind closed doors. The tentative plans that were presented during public meetings did not divide Madison County, thus I am unsure how the citizens could provide feedback on a possible division when one was not contemplated by the plans. At no time during this process did the residents of Madison County have a meaningful opportunity to be heard regard-*547mg the division of their county, regardless of the number of public meetings held. By not presenting to the public all plans and options being considered by it, the Commission failed its statutorily prescribed duty to “maximize the opportunity for public participation.”