To keep fair maps, vote No on Nov. 3, Sen. Danforth says
(Oct. 23, 2020) Former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth shared his views on Missouri’s promise for fair maps, the dangers of gerrymandering and his opposition to Amendment 3 at a statewide forum hosted Oct. 19 by the League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri. Campaign director Sean Soendker Nicholson made the case for a No vote and offered ways to reach voters.
Watch Sen. Danforth and campaign director Nicholson as they warn of the “toxic stew” called Amendment 3. LWV of Southwest Missouri past president Kelly Wood is moderator.
Though the League of Women Voters is always nonpartisan, never supporting candidates or political parties, it does advocate for policy issues after careful study. This forum is one of its advocacy programs. The League of Women Voters encourages a No vote on Amendment 3 on Nov. 3.
Amendment 3 is “a little window into something very big,” Sen. Danforth explained. “Most people know there’s something very wrong here.” If passed, Amendment 3 would create extreme gerrymandering which in turn creates super-safe districts with lawmakers who no longer see a need to listen to their constituents. “Amendment 3 is said to be a reform measure, but it is not,” Danforth stressed. “Gerrymandering is the big deal in this.”
Nicholson added, “Amendment 3 puts Missouri on the course to be the most gerrymandered state in the country. It’s bad news.”
In addition to his distinguished Senate career, Sen. Danforth was U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and served eight years as Missouri’s attorney general. He currently serves on the board of the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. Sen. Danforth was a prominent supporter of Clean Missouri in 2018.
Nicholson is directs the Clean Missouri coalition, working to defeat Amendment 3. He is a principal at GPS Impact, a Kansas City firm focused on communications and public affairs. Previously, he was executive director of Progress Missouri, a progressive advocacy organization. Sean lives in Kansas City with his family.