An interesting Arizona Republic article today laments the "end of an era" in the Arizona legislature. Reporter Robbie Sherwood focuses on the last two rancher politicians, Sen. Jake Flake and Rep. Jack Brown, who will still be serving when the legislature convenes in January.
The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced that Arizona is now the fastest-growing state in the nation. As more residents flock to the state and settle in around the metropolitan areas, a geographic shift in representation from the rural areas follows. The remaining states in the Census Bureau's top 10 list -- Nevada, Idaho, Georgia, Texas, Utah, North Carolina, Colorado, Florida and South Carolina -- are likely to see similar shifts in representation when redistricting rolls around at the turn of the decade.
Very interesting. In Texas, you could still say we have a bit of a "cowboy" legislature, although a lot went by the wayside with the loss of "WD40s" (white Democrats over 40) following redistricting in 2002.
Posted by: Vince Leibowitz | December 31, 2006 at 11:16 AM