In the wake of the People’s Maps Commission’s first hearing on Thursday, both candidates running for the First District Assembly seat say a new way to redrawing district lines may be needed. Proponents of a change towards a non-partisan review board for redistricting say voters should pick their legislators and not the other way around. Opponents believe drawing the district lines should remain the legislature’s duty under the state constitution. Republican Rep. Joel Kitchens signed onto legislation supporting non-partisan redistricting back in January. He believes it would give people trust in the process, but does not think it will have the impact many think it would.

His Democratic opponent Kim Delorit Jensen says drawing the maps should be 100 percent nonpartisan.  With the process’ success in other states like Iowa, she does not understand why it has not been acted on yet.

The People’s Maps Commission will meet seven more times to hear testimony on the subject. An advisory referendum question asking about non-partisan redistricting is appearing on several ballots in the state this fall including in Brown and Door Counties. You can listen to the rest of our interviews with Kitchens and Jensen on our podcast page.