INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): Advocates of redistricting reform have been emphasizing a call for an independent commission to draw the maps, but the real discussion may be over the rules the mapmakers are given. 

Former Democratic Governor Evan Bayh‘s chief of staff Tom Sugar formed a nonprofit group called “Lead or Leave” to push for an independent commission, but he says what‘s more important is to literally take politics out of the process itself. 

He points to Iowa as the best model to follow. Since 1980, it’s been illegal for Iowa’s mapmakers to look at voting history, party registration data, or where incumbent legislators live. 

Sugar will be one of four non-legislators on a 12-member legislative study committee on redistricting, chaired by Carmel Representative Jerry Torr. Former Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke is being considered for one of those seat. He says most districts will be safe for one party or the other even with an independently drawn map.

Sugar has produced his own hypothetical maps, which he says would create four congressional swing districts, and put an additional seven state Senate seats and 22 state House seats in play. 

That still means nearly three-quarters of Indiana‘s seats would be safe. Sugar acknowledges people of similar beliefs tend to cluster in the same areas, which limits the number of competitive districts.