ST PAUL (AP) — Preliminary census figures for 1970 indicate Minnesota’s eight congressional districts are badly in need of revision.
Only three of the districts are within 10 percent of the ideal size — 471,251 person — according to figures released Wednesday.
As expected the subruban 3rd District is the farthest out of whack containing 43 7 per rent more population than an ideal district
The Ideal ‘ire figured by dividing the state population J 7 million, by eight the number of congressmen allotted to Minnesota
The 1971 legislature will reapportion the districts, creating segments of approximately equal population to reflect ’ a ‘one man one vote apportionment.
Present districts were set up in 1962 In that case. Minnesota lost one congressmen but early reports indicate there will he no change in the number of congressional seats following the 1970 census
Several states in the region may lose a congressman ‘apiece next year however, because olhei areas of the nation grew faster
The current 3rd District server! by Republican Clark MacGregor has 677.202 people It takes in suburban Henncpir and Anoka Counties which an among the fastest growing areas of the state
The two nothern districts the 7th and 8th also are lai from the ideal in the other di rection Both need about KHI.iMH additional population Io come uj to the Weal
These scats arc held by Re publican Odin Lingen in the 7ll and Democrat John Blatnik ii the 8th
The malapportionment will have no effect on I hi’ year elections, in which all incum bents except MacGregiu are seeking new terms MacGregor |s running lot the I S Senate
The 6th District representer, by Republican John Zwach • onio surprisingly rliw Io Ihr ideal even (hough H contain? large tural areas which havr lost population Ilie 6th is onlv 2.65 per cent below the ideal figure.
Here is how the existing con gressional districts stack up against the ideal population figure
1st Republican Albert II Quie 514.846. too large by 9 25 per cent
2nd Republican Anchor Nel-mhi 392.968 too small by 16 62 per cent
3rd Republican Claik Mar-Gregor. 677.202. too large by 43.7 per cent.
4th. Democrat Joseph Earth: 557.286. ton large by 18.21 per cent.
5th. Democrat Donald Fraser. 431077. too small by 8.34 per cent.
6th. Republican John Zwach 458.797 too small by 2.65 per cent.
7th. Republican Odin Langen. 368 4 311 loo small by 21.82 per cent
8th. Democrat John Blatnik. 368.551 loo small by 21.80 per cent
Fraser’s district now includes .olely the City of Minneapolis, which has lost population The next legislature could, if it wished, split up.the city among two congressional districts, or hook on a suburb to bring the population up to the ideal
Hennepin County by itself has enough population for two con gressional district,’ opening up the possibility of two citv-suburban districts.
Ramsey County now linked with Washington County, fib neatly into a district of its own
Possibilities include pushing Anoka and Washington Counties into essentially outstate districts. such as the 1st or Sth.
The makeup of the new districts for the 1972 elections will depend heavily on the outcome of this year s voting Whichever parly wins control of the legislature and the governor s office will be able to add its political flavor to the new apportionment, subject to scrutiny by the courts in case Hie result is challenged.
In 1961. congressional redistricting was accomplished al a von brief special legislative sessioh late in the year There have been predictions that lawmakers in 1971 will be unable to handle both congressional and legislative reapportionment, and that a special session will again be needed.
However, legislative stalls have already begun preliminary work toward using computers to speed the job.
Editor; Dispatch: I am not a resident of your town; I only happened to pick up a copy of your paper while passing through.
In your June 5 editorial, you recommend that Brainerd should increase its population through annexation because you feel that this will help Brainerd financially. I think you ought to reconsider. this position in the light of certain statistics presented by Gus Tyler in an article in the Saturday Review (November 8, 1969). He mentions studies which have shown that when the gross income of a city rises 100 cent, revenue rises only 90 per cent, while expenditures rise 110 per cent. Thus, as a city grows, its budget problems get worse instead of better.
This is only one of the ways in which growing centralization is creating problems in this country. Instead of encouraging your city to grow, you should realize how lucky you are to live in a small town! I have lived most of my life in or near big cities, and I wish I could get away from them. I know many other big city residents who feel the same way.
Theodore J. Kaczynski
Lombard, Ill.