Can We Find Out Which District Please?

After more twists and turns than a roller-coaster, redistricting has been nothing short of a harrowing experience for Senate candidates looking to run for office, learn who the competition is, and who will be voting for (or against) them.

But is it possible that state Senate redistricting could be reaching some sort of conclusion?

Friday is the deadline for feedback for a tentative Senate map that was approved by a bipartisan commission a couple of weeks ago. The district lines have to be redrawn every 10 years based on U.S. Census population shifts across the state.

The response to the district map, of course, hasn’t been universally favorable. While some lawmakers, such as Sen. Brian Nieves (R-Washington), have been content with their reconfigured districts, others—such as Sens. Jim Lembke (R-Lemay) and Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield)—have not been so happy.

Especially in the case of Cunningham, whose residence was effectively drawn out of a district altogether.

The commission could vote to finalize the maps, there’s yet another legal wrinkle in the Senate redistricting process.

According to the Associated Press, a federal lawsuit was filed trying to get a judge to order the use of a Senate map that had been proposed by a judicial panel last year, but later discarded by the Missouri Supreme Court.

And even if there’s some finality to the state Senate district lines, its worth repeating that the Missouri Supreme Court has yet to decide on separate cases challenging Congressional and state House proposals. So this long-and-winding process may not yet be at an end.

The greatest dog who ever lived 

This column took note 

That effort was all well and good, but it pales in comparison to an effort to enshrine Jim the Wonder Dog as the official historical state dog of Missouri.

(For those who may not know, Jim the Wonder Dog was an amazing canine from Marshall, MO. Legend has it that Jim the Wonder Dog could understand multiple languages and correctly guess the winner of sporting events.)

According to former Columbia Tribune photographer Jenna Isaacson Pfueller, the dog had human-like eyes.

Legislation was referred to the House Committee on Tourism and Natural Resources to name Jim a state dog, and there is already a statue of the amazing pooch in Marshall, MO. But he does have legitimate competition. 

To be continued.

Ashcroft endorses Martin, Romney

When this column last mentioned former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft,

At the time, Wagner was running against Ed Martin. And

Now that Martin is no longer running against Wagner, the St. Louis City attorney is receiving Ashcroft’s blessing. The former state auditor, attorney general, governor and U.S. Senator officially backed Martin’s bid against Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster.

"I have known Ed for years and seen firsthand his work for our state and his great love for his family and concern for their welfare," Ashcroft said in a statement. "Ed's commitment to the rule of law is important. His executive governmental responsibilities and his legal experience as a clerk of the federal district court together with his years as a private sector lawyer eminently qualify him for service as Attorney General of Missouri."

Martin is running against Livingston County Prosecutor Adam Warren to decide which Republican will face Koster. Unlike his previous race, in which Wagner soaked up most of the endorsements, Martin is receiving backing from dozens of elected officials and activists.

Ashcroft, by the way, also threw his support behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. He said in a statement that “no other candidate stands out for his executive leadership experience or ability to accomplish difficult tasks as does Mitt Romney.”

Filing for state office continues through March 27.