Candidates say no to gerrymandering

From the Daily News:

New York has become a State of Shame largely because lawmakers have rigged the system to solidify their hold on office.

They make it extraordinarily difficult for challengers to get on the ballot. They take advantage of lax campaign finance rules to amass huge war chests. They use public moneys to make grants that buy local support.

And, when the census is completed every 10 years, they ruthlessly exploit the redrawing of lines for Senate, Assembly and congressional districts for partisan and personal advantage.

The commitments won by Koch from expected Democratic contender Andrew Cuomo and Republicans Rick Lazio, Steve Levy and Carl Paladino are aimed at preventing legislators from engaging in this abuse.

The lawmakers elected this November must know that business as usual is not an option when they next draw the lines in 2012. They must hear that the days of overstuffing some districts with voters and understuffing others are over. That drawing bizarre boundaries to protect buddies and maximize party power will not be tolerated.