OKLAHOMA POLICY RESEARCH CENTER

            EDMOND – 5/16/02 –  Most state political scientists believe that protecting incumbent congressional representatives should not be a major consideration during redistricting according to the most recent survey of the Oklahoma League of Political Scientists (OLPS).  A very strong majority of political scientists agree that effective representation of citizens within and across districts is not dependent upon drawing boundaries in a manner that protects incumbent representatives (78%).  Even considering congressional seniority, state political scientists believe that drawing boundaries in order to protect incumbents will have little effect on serving Oklahoma ’s best interests (69%).

            “Redistricting is inherently complex,” observed Brett Sharp, Director of the Oklahoma League of Political Scientists.  “In terms of both fairly representing citizens and effectively advancing the state’s interests in Washington , OLPS members are in rare agreement that incumbency protection should not be viewed as a significant issue in the redistricting process.”

            Another major policy issue among the various redistricting plans is whether and how much to carve up the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas.  The political scientists were more evenly divided over the issue of whether a congressional representative can (45%) or cannot (49%) fairly represent the interests of both rural and urban areas.

            “Preserving communities of interest has always been an important consideration during the redistricting process, but the political scientists seem to be balancing that concern with the recognition that modern politicians are accustomed to serving a diverse set of constituents,” comments Sharp.  “Several significant communities of interest could even exist within the same metropolitan area.”

            Forty-six members of the organization of professionally trained political scientists representing academia, business and government sectors participated in this most recent survey.

            The Oklahoma League of Political Scientists is a non-partisan association of political scientists interested in policy issues affecting the State of Oklahoma .  Its purpose “is not to advocate particular sides of issues, but rather to communicate the full range of views of its members on the political environment and dynamics of state policy making,” according to Sharp.   Membership is drawn from business, not-for-profits, government and academia.   A survey format is used to communicate members’ views in a comprehensive, unbiased and anonymous manner.

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This survey is published for the information of the people of Oklahoma and does not reflect any particular political viewpoint or position of individual members, the Advisory Board, any of the members’ employers, or the University of Central Oklahoma.

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