Too often a given party with years in office will bear the malignant fruit of self-interest. One such fruit is gerrymandering, where self-interested legislators draw up districts to contain the voters most likely to keep them in power.

Regrettably, Tooele County is a classic example of the practice, with boundaries so disfigured that only one of our six state representatives, Jim Gowans, actually resides in the county. Sen. Ralph Okerlund, representing most of Tooele Valley, lives nearly 200 miles from its largest city. For political profit, our community has been carved into districts spanning several counties over hundreds of miles.

Shenanigans of precisely this nature garner universal head-wagging from politicians, and the disgust and alienation of potential voters. Gerrymandering is typical of the kind of party politics that Americans are rebelling against in droves.

Which is why I find it hard to understand anyone opposing simple reforms to end the practice. Grantsville resident and former state Rep. Merrill Nelson, a Republican, is challenging the establishment in his own party by playing a leading role in the Fair Boundaries Coalition. The group’s initiative, currently circulating the county for signatures, would create a non-partisan commission to examine census data and offer districting suggestions to the Legislature. Everybody wins. The process becomes more transparent, legislators get extra input from an impartial source, and citizens can become more involved. What’s the downside?

According to at least some opposition, it appears to be you. Redistricting, it seems, is not for the ill-informed masses.

“The Legislature is best set up to the job,” Okerlund, R-Monroe, assured us a few months back. “We know where our boundaries are and are familiar with the people and communities.”

Remarkably, this is the same Ralph Okerlund tasked with representing District 24 — a district covering roughly a sixth the state of Utah.

Tooele County Republican Party chairman Chris Sloan is equally wary of public involvement. Last week, he said, “Redistricting is probably best left to the people that understand it best: our elected representatives.”

In other words: “Trust us. We know what’s best for you.”

This feels an awful lot like the kind of parental governing that has citizens marching in the streets. Most civil servants are happy to take your input, but involving the public in making policy becomes a different matter when a given party becomes too cozy in office.

The status-quo mantra is frustrating, if typical, from entrenched policy-makers. However, the grounds on which legislators oppose Fair Boundaries is more perplexing. Concern appears to stem from the notion that input from layman will impede upon the informed judgment of our leaders, but the initiative makes clear the commission would serve primarily to advise. The Legislature would keep full jurisdiction over boundary changes. If lawmakers happen to reach a different consensus than an unpaid, nonpartisan commission, the common folk may simply ask why. Surly we’re not asking too much of our elected leaders by having them justify their policies.

With due respect to officials at home and abroad, folks are tired of the head-patting. Citizens want to be heard. Some issues transcend the partisan ping-pong game. Ensuring that our interests are represented ahead of either party is the prerogative of every citizen in Tooele County. There has never been greater need for districting reform, and the Fair Boundaries Initiative is the way to make it happen.

Matt Rowley is a teacher at Copper Canyon Elementary who lives in Tooele. He can be reached at matrowl@yahoo.com.