In municipal government, the needs of the community must come before party politics. The closer the government is to the people, the less partisanship matters. This is the spirit with which I sponsored the ordinance for a citizen-led redistricting initiative in Valparaiso.
However, the amended ordinance, which was subsequently passed by the city council, no longer met that standard, so I voted against it. Given that this was such a high-profile initiative for me and for the city, I want to offer the public an explanation as to why, as the author of the original ordinance, I could not support the amended version.
I voted ‘no’ on the amended ordinance because its path was foundationally different from the original I sponsored. The amended version introduced a membership requirement based on partisan politics. Additionally, several amendments were initially offered anonymously and in isolation, with no opportunity for public review and input.
An opportunity to empower the citizens of Valparaiso with authentic participation in the process that determines their representation was missed when the council ultimately decided that the citizen commission needed to insert “guardrails” to do the right thing. This implied message suggested that our citizens require a partisan babysitter and could not be trusted to make good decisions without guidance from the major political parties. This is simply wrong.
The amended ordinance also has structural flaws. For example, an even-numbered advisory commission risks deadlock, which could prevent the map from reaching the city council for consideration and approval. This amendment could, therefore, more easily cause the commission to fail in its mission.
Despite these differences, I celebrate Valparaiso’s codification of a citizen-led redistricting commission. The city is now the fourth municipality in the state to form an advisory commission for redistricting. This is a historic accomplishment for Valparaiso and will serve to elevate the issue of redistricting, along with the added benefit of increasing civic engagement.
I am proud of the work I did on this initiative. It brought awareness to redistricting at a time when deeply partisan divides are prominently displayed in our state and nation. I hope to continue participating in the development of Valparaiso’s commission by offering my experience and network to make this initiative successful.
I will also continue my work advising local, regional, and national non-partisan redistricting reform efforts. I strongly believe that the redistricting process belongs to the people, not to politicians. I am convinced that employing a non-partisan, citizen-led approach will encourage greater voter participation, as more people see a clear and non-partisan connection between themselves and those they elect to serve them.
Our votes matter—not just for high-profile issues, but for the foundational issues that more directly impact our daily lives. Good governance remains the goal!
*Barbara Domer is a member of the Valparaiso City Council.*
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/09/guest-column-redistricting-reform-belongs-to-the-people-not-politicians/
