Phony claims of gerrymandering are about as bad as actual gerrymandering
MINOT, N.D. — When I first read the headlines about Senate Minority Leader Joan Heckaman, D-New Rockford, I thought to myself, “finally.”
Not because I bear any ill will against Heckaman who, ideological differences aside, is an astute and competent lawmaker and, by all accounts, a very nice person to boot. Rare things in politics, these days.
No, I thought “finally” because Heckaman’s retirement has been widely talked about in political circles for months now, much the same way everybody knew Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, was also going to be retiring.
They each got around to making it official just recently. In Heckaman’s case, it’s a reason why her legislative district was eliminated during redistricting.
