Print edition: 
Redistricting is a complex jumble of Census numbers, demographics and maps. But it matters because it determines the allocation of political power, a state legislator emphasized Wednesday before Sedgwick County commissioners redrew the areas they serve.
Commissioners unanimously approved a redistricting option that puts all of Maize and Park City into northern District 4, represented by Richard Ranzau.
The option they chose —after considering 10 scenarios — moves precincts from the western part of District 1, represented by Dave Unruh, into Ranzau's district to create Hillside as a dividing line between 37th and 77th streets north, county counselor Rich Euson said.
It also moves some of western District 3 into southern District 2.
Commissioners didn't seem to go into the vote with strong feelings one way or another, although not everyone was initially settled on the final option, No. 8.
State Rep. Melody McCray-Miller, D-Wichita, said redistricting, required every 10 years when new Census numbers come out, should safeguard the interests of minorities. She spoke on behalf of the African American Coalition, a group of several minority organizations.
McCray-Miller, a former commissioner, favored an option that would have moved a large area of Unruh's district to Ranzau's, the only district where a majority of registered voters are Democrats.
Even though commissioners did not choose the option that McCray-Miller favored, the district will retain a Democratic majority.
Commissioner Tim Norton said it was important that changes be easy for people to understand but also ensure that people are adequately represented.
In the end, Norton said he liked all of the options. He described himself as the "neediest" commissioner, meaning his district needed to gain the most population.
The largest population imbalance was between District 1 in the northeastern part of the county and District 2 in the south-central part of the county, represented by Norton.
The other commissioners' districts range from 99,550 constituents to 101,470.
Population balance is important to ensure equal representation throughout the county. When populations vary by too much, some peoples' votes essentially count more than others.
The districts would balance perfectly if they all had 99,673 residents. The new maps will have 99,606 people in Unruh's district, 98,467 in Norton's, 99,722 in Karl Peterjohn's, 101,020 in Ranzau's and 99,550 in Jim Skelton's.
Unruh said Wichita Independent Neighborhoods, an umbrella organization for the city's neighborhood associations, advocated making the fewest number of changes so as not to confuse voters.
Unruh said his initial choice was an option that would have given him a rectangle-shaped district but would have taken over some of Skelton's area.
That scenario was intended to eliminate the jagged "staircase" in the far southwestern area of Unruh's district, Euson said.
Unruh said his second choice was an option that he said "made the changes necessary with the least amount of movement."
The option commissioners settled on, Unruh said, was like the option he preferred but "straightened up my boundary up north."
The changes go into effect immediately, Euson said.
