The Independent Maps Initiative in Illinois first hit a road block in July when it was deemed unconstitutional by Cook County Circuit Judge Diane Larsen and forced off the November ballot despite overwhelming support by voters and approval from the State Board of Elections.
A 4-3 Democratic majority on the Illinois Supreme Court later agreed with Larsen's ruling, keeping the initiative off the Nov. 8 ballot.
Jessica Tucker of Winnetka, the Republican candidate in House District 18, said she believes in the remapping effort.
“I think the initiative is a good one,” Tucker said. “I think the way that districts are gerrymandered now really takes away the voice and the vote of citizens, whether it’s one party or the other, like you see in some states. I’m not pointing at one party or the other, I’m just saying the process itself should be independent and take the politics out of the process.”
While there has been opposition to the redistricting efforts, Tucker insists that their arguments are misleading.
“Now I know there has been some criticism by those that oppose the Independent Maps Initiative saying that minority rights will not be represented properly, but I think that if you hear the lawyer for Independent Maps, Lori Lightfoot, talk about it … (the argument) is actually a red herring argument,” Tucker said.
Tucker said that, according to Lightfoot, the Independent Maps Initiative will be the first time that minority rights would be protected because it would be elevated to constitutional protection, which is a first.
“So it would actually help minority representation (rather) than hurt,” Tucker said. “This initiative, which was signed by over 600,000 residents – I mean it had so many signatures it is unbelievable – that this is really needed here in Illinois, and that the small window that Judge Larsen drew for (the initiative) is so narrow that I think it would be impossible for it to ever happen.”
Larsen’s ruling set a precedence in which any attempts similar to the Independent Maps initiative would be extremely difficult, Tucker said.
“My understanding is that there is such a narrow and very high threshold … that it would basically nullify any efforts,” Tucker said. “It doesn’t make sense. It seems like it is putting semantics over the realities of what is happening out there. We need better representation of the voters in Springfield. It is not happening under the current process.”
Tucker emphasizes the need to take the politics out of Springfield, and she hopes the citizens of Illinois will at least have a vote on remapping.
“I mean, they might vote no at the end of the day,” Tucker said. “We don’t know what the results are going to be but I think it’s pretty clear that the citizens would like to have a say on this that they don’t have right now. It should be on the ballot.”
She admits that she gets upset at how the voice of the voters is lost in the political back and forth in Springfield.
“At the end of the day, it’s just so frustrating,” Tucker said. “There should be respect for the voters. There should be respect for the citizens and residents of the state. You can see that the results (of Illinois’ policies) are what helps incumbents stay in office or help the entrenched political class stay where they are.”
She points out the hypocrisy of lawmakers and how their pension plans surpass those of their constituents.
“If they serve 20 years, they get 85 percent of their pay guaranteed for the rest of their life,” Tucker said. “What kind of example is that to set when we have the highest unfunded pension liability of any state in the country?"
She also voices disappointment at how lawmakers get full health insurance when residents are struggling to find proper care at a time when several insurance providers have left the state health insurance exchange.
“Look at what is happening at the Land of Lincoln Insurance,” Tucker said. “It just went belly up. 49,000 people are out of health insurance. And yet our state reps … I mean, they are supposed to be working for the people, right? First to be paid. First to get great benefits. First to get a pension.”
She insists that it is no longer about the people of Illinois but about its politicians. This, she concludes, is backwards and frustrating.
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