Public documents obtained by Ohio voter advocates show a key representative of U.S. House Speaker John Boehner was central in drawing the state's disputed congressional map.
Records released today by the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting show Tom Whatman, executive director of Team Boehner, participated in the process with legislative leaders, mapmaking consultants and the National Republican Congressional Committee. The correspondence includes a pledge by GOP Senate President Tom Niehaus to deliver "a map that Speaker Boehner fully supports."
Near the deadline, Whatman was averaging a request a day, including a suggested boundary change affecting the Canton-based Timken Co., led by a prolific Republican political donor.
Democrats are seeking to challenge the map at the polls next year. They have until Christmas to submit the necessary signatures.