Michigan redistricting commissioner's resignation creates vacancy on powerful panel

Lansing — A member of Michigan's 13-member redistricting commission resigned, creating a vacancy that will be filled through a random selection process Jan. 3 amid a court challenge of the state's legislative maps.

Dustin Witjes, a Democrat, submitted a resignation letter that was received by the Secretary of State's Office on Wednesday. In the letter, Witjes said he had moved to Illinois to follow a new career path.

"I have thus officially registered to vote in the state of Illinois, which necessitates my resignation from the MICRC (Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission) as I am no longer a registered and eligible voter in Michigan," Witjes said in his letter.

A successful ballot proposal in 2018 shifted the power to shape Michigan's legislative district lines every 10 years from the state Legislature to an independent commission. The citizen-led panel redrew the lines for the first time ahead of the 2022 election.

Last week, Commissioner Rebecca Szetela, who's considered a nonpartisan member of the commission, argued the out-of-state residencies of the two commissioners, including Witjes, could become a pressing issue if the group is ordered to redraw the maps by federal judges currently weighing their legality in an court case.

"We are in the middle of litigation in the Agee case, and we could potentially have an order as soon as next week, and if that is going to be the case and we have two vacant positions, I would like to see those positions filled by people who are actually residing in the state of Michigan," Szetela said.

The lawsuit alleges Michigan's district lines unfairly discriminate against Black voters and candidates.

Lawyers for the commission previously said they were investigating the legality of the continued service of Witjes and Commissioner Doug Clark, a Republican, who was said to have moved to California.

The commission is required to feature four people who affiliate with the Republican Party, four people who affiliate with the Democratic Party, and five people who do not affiliate with either major political party.

Under the Michigan Constitution, a new commissioner will be randomly selected from the remaining pool of semi-finalist applicants who affiliate with Democrats because Witjes was a Democrat.

The Michigan Secretary of State's Office will livestream the random selection at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 3.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

Staff Writer Beth LeBlanc contributed.