By Jeremy Duda The balance of power in Arizona government may
shift a little further toward the Phoenix metro area when the
state’s legislative and congressional district boundaries are
redrawn. As a result, rural areas might wind up with less
representation than they have now. Determining with any
precision where the district lines will be in 2012, when
Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission will finish
redrawing the boundaries, is a nearly impossible task. But
population growth and voter registration trends can at least
provide some insight on which areas are likely to see the
greatest change when the new maps are unveiled. Arizona’s
population jumped from about 5.1 million in 2000 to 6.5 million
in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That growth has
largely occurred in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties Arizona is
expected to gain one, and possibly two, congressional seats in
the next redistricting. But the number of legislative districts
is set in stone at 30, and each must have roughly an e