COLUMBUS — At its first meeting Thursday, the board charged with redrawing Ohio's legislative district lines promised to open the process to citizens more than ever before.

        The five-member Apportionment Board's only Democrat, however, said the public should have more time to comment on the plan it intends to adopt.

SCHEDULE

The public hearing schedule for the state Apportionment Board, which will redraw Ohio's legislative districts by Oct. 5:     • Aug. 20: University of Toledo, 10 a.m.-noon; University of Findlay, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.     • Aug. 21: Cleveland State University, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.; University of Akron, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.; Walsh University, North Canton, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.     • Aug. 22: University of Cincinnati, 10 a.m.-noon; University of Dayton, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.     • Aug. 23: Muskingum College, New Concord, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.     • Aug. 24: Ohio State University-Newark, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.; Columbus State Community College, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

        The board elected Gov. Bob Taft as its chairman, Auditor Jim Petro as its vice chairman and political consultant Scott Borgemenke, a former aide to Mr. Taft, as its secretary. Mr. Taft, Mr. Petro, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell and House Speaker Larry Householder are the Republicans on the board. Senate Minority Leader Leigh Herington is a Democrat.

        Ohio's 99 House and 33 Senate districts must be redrawn to reflect population shifts found in last year's census. The House districts are drawn first, then three House districts are combined to form one Senate district. The new maps must be published by Oct. 5.

        The board will hold 10 hearings at colleges around the state Aug. 20-24, then meet to review redistricting plans Oct. 1. The board will consider any plan that would hold up under the Ohio Constitution and U.S. Supreme Court decisions. However, the board historically has adopted the maps designed by its own staff.

        The constitution requires a district be as compact as possible and gives preference to cities and counties that can qualify as a single district. The Supreme Court rulings mostly concern the makeup of districts with large minority populations.

        Plans must be submitted by Sept. 24 to Mr. Blackwell's office, which will post them on a special Internet site. The date was a compromise between the proposed rules and a Herington amendment. Mr. Herington later complained that the board would not meet until five days before the maps must be published.

Teen faces new charge of attempted murder
Ky. 17 completion should trigger land boom
Hunting buddies face charges
CAN announces members of economic inclusion team
Fuller plan would revive 'voices of city's past'
Goal: policing without bias
Petitions reviewed for errors
Plan to move Job Corps opposed
Whitehead, once homeless, takes helm of national agency
Heart of town renews its life
Heat adds stress for fair critters
Tristate A.M. Report
Tristate GOP reps support compromise
Unclaimed-funds books go on tour
Virus is coming, health officials say
Fairfax meeting called to end rumors
Hearings set on tax boost
Lebanon debates phone costs
Board promises citizen input
Judge annuls minister's marriage to wealthy 77-year-old widow
David Bunning put up for federal judgeship
Day care centers get report cards
Kentucky News Briefs
Man drowns fishing Lake Cumberland
Past president of Thomas More College killed in crash
Smokers, chewers! Give up tobacco, win cash prizes
Two Boone deputies suspended