McHenry Times

Dan Ugaste considers gerrymandering to be at the root of many of the problems that have plagued Illinois over the years.

“Since 2000, Democrats have had control of the state and that’s led to many of the  spending problems, budget problems, fiscal problems and problems in the business world we’re now experiencing,” Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter. “To a great extent, they gained that control by gerrymandering districts.”

Ugaste, who recently launched his 2018 campaign to replace retiring Rep. Steve Andersson (R-Geneva) in the 65th District, thinks the time for change is now, and a growing number of lawmakers agree with him.

A bipartisan coalition of 65 lawmakers in eight states is pushing to curtail gerrymandering by backing an amicus curiae brief in the Gill v. Whitford case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Illinois is one of those states. Reps. Bob Pritchard (R-Hinckley), Scott Drury (D-Highwood), Michael Fortner (R-West Chicago), Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) and David Olsen (R-Downers Grove) have joined Sens. Michael Connelly (R-Naperville), Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles), William Brady (R-Bloomington), Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), Chris Nybo (R-Elmhurst), Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), Sue Rezin (R-Morris), Heather Steans (D-Chicago), Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) and Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) in signing the brief.

Political gerrymandering is defined as the act of drawing up legislative districts for partisan advantage. The Wisconsin case in the high court concerns a redistricting dispute in which a U.S. district court found that the state violated certain protections provided by the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The other states involved in the action are Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Maryland.

Ugaste says gerrymandering has run its course.

“It’s clear it hasn’t worked and needs to be rethought,” Ugaste said. “It makes it almost impossible for one group to ever bring their representatives into power.”

In Illinois, critics argue that gerrymandering led to Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) being in power for almost half a century.  

Politico Illinois Playbook recently reported that Madigan has no plans to retire anytime soon, recently declaring that he plans to remain in office beyond 2020, when redistricting is planned. 

“These districts have to make some sort of sense," Ugaste said. "To draw them up merely along party lines does nothing but cost the state more damage. One way or another, either through the Supreme Court or some sort of state action, something has to be done to make this a fairer process.”

The 65th District includes Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Pingree Grove, Gilberts, Wayne, Elgin, South Elgin, Hampshire and Huntley.