Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the May 7, 2011, Reno Gazette-Journal.

Democrats and Republicans and the Legislature released their competing redistricting plans over the past week and a half, and the biggest surprise for Northern Nevada residents was that there was no surprises at all.

Washoe County is going to lose a seat in the Senate — the one held for decades by the now-retired Sen. Bill Raggio and now kept warm by Sen. Greg Brower, who’s already announced his plan to run for the vacant Northern Nevada seat in the U.S. House of Representatives — and a couple of seats in the Assembly.

But there was never any doubt of that once the lawmakers rejected out of hand any discussion of increasing the number of districts in both Senate and Assembly because, it’s said, of the cost.

Beyond some possible tinkering with the lines, Northern Nevadans no longer have a dog in this fight. The struggle will be among Southern Nevadans, who will have the vast majority of seats in the Legislature, as well as probably three of four in the House, when the next election rolls around.

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