Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
480-731-8503

MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO HOST SECOND ROUND REDISTRICTING HEARINGS

August 24, 2001 – With community input determined to be a high priority, the Center for Civic Participation of the Maricopa Community Colleges is assisting the Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee in conducting its second round of hearings by providing meeting facilities.

The hearings begin on Saturday, August 25 and continue through September 15, 2001. However, only four of the twenty-five public hearings will be held in Maricopa County, so the turnout is expected to be large. The Navajo Room in the Kirk Student Center at Mesa Community College, 1833 W. Southern Avenue, was chosen as the meeting site on Thursday, August 30th at 6:30pm. The South Mountain Community College Student Union Room 100-A was selected for the Tuesday, September 4th public hearing, which begins at 6:30pm.

The two other hearings scheduled for Maricopa County will be held Saturday, August 25th at 3:00pm at the Phoenix Union High School District Board Room, and on Wednesday, September 12 at the Glendale City Council Chambers at 6:30pm. Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor, Dr. Fred Gaskin says, “We see this as an opportunity to help educate the public. It’s just one way we can fulfill our civic responsibility and participate in these history making hearings.”

The Independent Redistricting Commission acts independently of the State Legislature, as a result of the voter-approved Proposition 106, in re-drawing legislative and congressional district boundaries. The commission’s draft plan is available on-line at http://www.azredistricting.org. The five-member panel stresses the preliminary nature of the plan, and urges every resident in the state to voice an opinion on it. A comment form is attached and should be submitted as soon as possible if citizens cannot attend a meeting. The Maricopa County Community College District, is one of the largest community college districts in the nation. It includes 10 colleges – Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain Community College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Southwest Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves over 250,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu.

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March 13, 2002