CITY OF RIO RANCHO
RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION NO. 52
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ENACTMENT NO.
SPONSOR: MAYOR THOMAS E. SWISSTACK
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF RIO RANCHO’S REQUESTS FOR
THE UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION OF THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE
PERTAINING TO REDISTRICTING.
WHEREAS: the New Mexico Legislature expects to meet in special session in September
2011 to consider legislative, congressional, Public Education Commission
and Public Regulation Commission redistricting plans; and,
WHEREAS: redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries for the 70 house
districts and 42 senate districts to best meet the one-person, one-vote
requirement; and,
WHEREAS: the history of redistricting begins with the United States Constitution and
its requirement that members of the United States House of
Representatives be apportioned among the states according to the
number of persons in each state as determined by an actual enumeration
every 10 years; and,
WHEREAS: beginning with the first census in 1790, there has been a census every 10
years for an unbroken series of 23 nationwide population counts, and the
census provides the statistical basis for state-drawn congressional district
lines, almost all state legislative redistricting plans, most local redistricting
measures and many distribution formulas for allocating revenues and
government funds; and,
WHEREAS: 2010 Census information released in March 2011 showed that the City of Rio
Rancho’s population was 87,521, which was a 69.1 percent increase in
population from the 2000 Census, and was the largest population increase
for a city in the State of New Mexico over the past 10 years; and,
WHEREAS: 2010 Census information released in March 2011 showed that Sandoval
County’s population was 131,561, which was a 46.3 percent increase in
population from the 2000 Census, and was the largest population
increase for a county in the State of New Mexico over the past 10 years;
and,
WHEREAS: Because of the City of Rio Rancho’s dramatic increase in population over the
past 10 years, which has made the community the third largest in the State
of New Mexico, the city is urging its legislators in state government that
represent the City of Rio Rancho and Sandoval County to ensure that the
redistricting process is fair and equitable; that the process takes into account
the area’s growth over the past 10 years and subsequent need for additional
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representation at the state government level; and inclusion of singlejurisdiction legislative districts that ensures that Rio Rancho residents elect
fellow residents to represent them is considered; and,
WHEREAS: The City of Rio Rancho recognizes that redistricting is a contentious topic for
the New Mexico Legislature to undertake due to the fact that shifts in
population can lead to redistricting bills that may eliminate legislative seats or
put legislators into new districts and with different constituencies.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF
RIO RANCHO:
That the City of Rio Rancho’s requests for the upcoming special session of the New
Mexico Legislature for legislative, congressional, Public Education Commission and Public
Regulation Commission redistricting plans includes:
1)
That the New Mexico Legislature takes into consideration the City of Rio
Rancho’s population growth over the last 10 years, which at 69.1 percent was the
highest rate of population growth for a city in the State of New Mexico and made
Rio Rancho the state’s third largest city.
2)
The City’s population growth is an indication that additional representation at the
state government level is necessary for Rio Rancho.
3) Inclusion of single-jurisdiction legislative districts that ensures that Rio Rancho
residents elect fellow residents to represent them.
4) Redistricting plans should adhere to relevant federal and state law, and the prior
experience of the New Mexico Legislature.
5) The redistricting process should be completed before the nominating petitions are
first made available in October 2011 for the 2012 primary election.
ADOPTED THIS 22ND DAY OF JUNE, 2011.
Thomas E. Swisstack, Mayor
Date
ATTEST:
Roman Montoya, City Clerk
(SEAL)