Whitehall Township is expected to take the lead in Lehigh County Feb. 13 in calling for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to begin the process of state reform and put an end to gerrymandering politicians in office.

The board of commissioners will have on its agenda for its regular meeting Monday a proposed resolution asking the state to assign the task of both legislative and congressional redistricting to an independent citizens redistricting commission.

Commissioners President Phillips Armstrong said Pennsylvania ranks “dead last” of all the 50 states when it comes to redistricting and putting an end to gerrymandering - the unfair carving up of municipalities to give a state or congressional officeholder, or political party, an unfair advantage.

“It’s embarrassing,” Armstrong said of the state’s ranking, adding he believes the practice is carried out by both the Democratic and Republican parties.

“It’s got to stop,” Armstrong said, noting all that is wanted is “a level playing field” for persons running for state or congressional seats.

There was no opposition by the seven-member board to Armstrong’s proposed resolution.

Commissioner Philip Ginder suggested a town hall meeting for citizens to voice their thoughts on the issue. Armstrong said he recently was at such an event in Allentown that drew a huge crowd in support of redistricting.

The resolution the commissioners will vote on states citizens “deserve a fair, fully transparent, impartial and depoliticized process of the decennial drawing of state legislature and congressional districts of near equal population.”

“We would be the first in Lehigh County,” Armstrong said in taking a stand on gerrymandering by enacting the resolution.

The statewide effort already has 10 municipalities that have enacted such resolutions.

Township commissioners support legislative efforts to secure expeditious action to make a constitutional amendment that would, among other reforms, assign the decennial task of both legislative and congressional redistricting to an independent citizens redistricting commission.

Following its expected passage by commissioners, the resolution will be delivered to all members of the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives.

An impartial independent citizens redistricting commission, devoid of political motivation or partisanship, will help to ensure a fair and accurate legislative and congressional redistricting process that respects political subdivisions and communities of interest. The new system would prohibit districts from being drawn to favor or discriminate against a political party or candidate, promote transparency or use impartial and sound methodology when setting district boundaries.