Kankakee Times

Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) questioned a Pritzker-appointee witness who expressed a desire to keep districts the same.

Dr. Stacy Grundy explained her rejection of the planned redistricting process by stating concerns that many disenfranchised communities would see a further decrease in representation and access to resources. She also said that the American Community Survey data gives “an accurate depiction of what these communities look like.”

“Springfield is represented by a number of different districts today and you’re saying, and I want to make sure I understand your point, your point is don't move any of the boundaries in Springfield,” Barickman asked.

The witness from the 48th District of Illinois answered that she is not in favor “as far as changing the boundaries of the legislative districts.”

“Combining, splitting those communities up and putting them with communities who do not know the needs of that community who have different interests, then you start to make the present need more invisible. But we all know they still exist,” Grundy said.

Grundy is an Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board member. Upon learning this, Barickman raised more questions.

"Are you here on behalf of the Governor's Office?” he first asked and followed it up with two more questions: “Did you speak with anyone ... or communicate with anyone in the governor's office about your attendance? Did you speak to any Senate Democrats' staff?”

Grundy replied she was testifying as a resident of the East Side of Springfield, as a public health professional, and as a business owner in the 48th District. She said that she doesn't know anyone in the governor’s office and had not spoken to any Democratic lawmakers.

In a last-ditch bid to persuade the Democratic lawmakers from using non-census data to draw up new legislative districts, Barickman filed Senate Bill 1325 which aims to amend the Democratic version of the redistricting process. On April 21, 2021, he “sent a formal request to Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) to extend the Third Reading Deadline on the legislation, along with a request to Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago), asking that the legislation be released from the Assignments Committee so that it can be heard and debated in the appropriate public committee” Barickman said in a statement.

The Republican Party has also urged Gov. Pritzker to clarify if he'd veto partisan-drawn maps as he had promised.