Council Approves Aldermanic Redistricting Map For Brookfield

BROOKFIELD, WI — The Common Council passed an ordinance with new boundaries for Brookfield's aldermanic districts Tuesday.

The vote was 13-1. Alderman Mike Hallquist dissented.

Municipalities are required to redistrict by law. The main reason to move the districts is to account for population changes.

The proposed plan contained three wards at each of the seven polling locations and provided for a similar number of eligible voters inside each ward.

The council considered two choices: The so-called plan four, which included 21 wards, and plan five, which included 15 wards.

The majority of the council supported plan four, which kept districts even in population and kept current aldermen in their districts.

Alderwoman Kathryn Wilson favored plan four because it deviated less from current aldermanic districts. Wilson said it wasn't to their advantage to have residents squint at a map trying to figure out who their alderman was.

"It should be easy to identify who they want to call and where they want to go," Wilson said.

Alderman Bob Reddin expressed concern about picking a plan that moved a large percentage of the population into different voting areas.

"You are going to get people to show up where they think they are supposed to go, and they are told they are in the wrong place," Reddin said.

If a person is busy, she might decide not to vote that year, he added.

Hallquist had issues with the process of redistricting. One of the plans took into account where incumbents live; the other did not.

"I can't consciously support any plan that takes incumbency addresses into the design. I think it is quite frankly undemocratic," Hallquist said.

Alderman Brad Blumer agreed with Hallquist that where incumbents live shouldn't be a primary factor. But both plans had merits, he said.

"I think if all else is equal, I think we can lean towards a more logical geographical layout. And, yes, it does keep everybody in their district," Blumer said.