Tom Ross Joins Debate Over Redistricting With A Focus On Independent Panels

Former University of North Carolina System President Tom Ross has a new job. He's been named as the first Terry Sanford Distinguished Fellow at Duke University where he'll be focusing on the topic of redistricting.

His appointment couldn't have come at a better time. A federal court threw out two of the state's congressional districts this month, and now legislators are scrambling to draw new ones. WFDD's Paul Garber spoke with Ross about his new job and why he wanted to focus on political mapmaking.

"I'm someone who cares a good deal about Democracy. What I see happening is a lot of districts that are not contested, so people feel like their voice isn't being heard, and they don't have a chance to be represented. I want to see if independent redistricting commissions might be a solution."

Ross points out that there are costs to partisan redistricting, including legal fees to defend them and even postponed primaries. 

"Sometimes what we miss when we gerrymander too much is that we lose a sense of community, we lose a sense of the best interest of that community – so those are factors that ought to be important as we move forward, and I hope again with our work here we can look at what other states are doing and learn from that."

Ross' fellowship at Duke lasts through the semester but could be extended. He also remains on the faculty of UNC's School of Government. He says he still has a lot of energy left and is considering other possibilities beyond the university setting.

"I find myself at a point in my life really for the first time I haven't got a clear plan. So I'm trying to think through what is best for me to do. How can I use my time and make a difference?"

Ross says he disagreed with the decision to replace him but acknowledges that the board has a right to make that decision. He says he has met with his successor, Margaret Spellings, a former U.S. Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush, and wishes her well. 

"I am moving on. It's dificult because you get deeply attached emotionally to an institution like that and the people there. But it was a great opportunity for me and I was blessed to have the role. I was thankful that I had it and hope that the university has nothing but great things ahead."