2. Precinct boundaries - Laserfiche WebLink

Michael Montplaisir, CPA Cass County Auditor P.O. Box 2806 Fargo, ND 58108 Dear Mr. Montplaisir: 801 12th Ave East West Fargo, ND 58078 December 22, 2001 Thank you for your letter of December 18 addressed to me as District 13 contact for the ND Dem-NPL. Your letter invited comments on the proposed Precinct and Commission District Boundaries. In reviewing the precinct maps and information on population presented, two issues are evident. Precinct 13-01 has twice the population of the average precinct in Cass County. One means to address this is to move the eastern boundary of Precinct 13-01 west to the Sheyerme River. This would slightly increase the populations of precincts 13-03, 13-02, and 13-05, but they would still be manageable. The logical voting place would be Westside Elementary School for the newly defined Precinct 13-01. The West Fargo School District should be able to accommodate this change. The second issue is not as easily remedied. A small portion (1-2 blocks) of the City of West Fargo, north of Main Avenue and east of County 17, formerly in Precinct 13-03, has been legislatively removed fi.om District 13 and placed in District 22. The population involved is statistically irrelevant and could easily be included in the reformed Precinct 13-03. It appears that the Republicans dominating the legislative redistricting process fear any future competition fi.om the very effective West Fargo City Commissioner living in that neighborhood. In fact, several verbal reports from those involved or observing the redistricting process bear this out. In excising this area t~om West Fargo, the residents of this small residential neighborhood are put into a no-man's land, without a natural polling place. If there is any action the Cass County Commission can legally take to challenge this inconsiderate gerrymandering, I ask that it be taken on behalf of the voters. Thank you for th/s opportunity to comment. The Democrat-Non Partisan League Party appreciates your concern and efforts to make elections as fair and accurate as possible. ?h%lde Brodshaug CC: Mike McLeod, West Fargo City Auditor