Daryl Metcalfe

Supporters of proposed legislation that would have legislative redistricting done by an independent commission were frustrated when state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe was away from his office this week.

The gathering wanted Metcalfe to allow House Bill 722 to get to the House floor for a vote. The bill is in the State Government Committee, which Metcalfe chairs.

“The problem is the bill is being held up by Mr. Metcalfe,” said Denise Seilhamer. “And we're here to ask him to give it a hearing.”

Many in the group gathered at Metcalfe's Cranberry office blamed him for holding up any public hearing or discussion on the bill, though he has not officially taken a stand on the issue. They take his silence as opposition.

Those gathered said they were frustrated with Metcalfe not showing up to address the gathering.

“I will say that as long as citizens are willing to beg for crumbs at the table, since no one knows where he is or how to get a hold of him, we should have 1,000 people here,” Marion Tavernaris, gerrymandering opponent and Metcalfe constituent said. “I'm done begging ... These are not nice people.”

The gathering was originally planned as a protest, but organizers chose to postpone it, citing an excess of interest for which they were not adequately prepared.

In place of the protest, about a dozen people gathered at the office to relay their request.

Metcalfe did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In the meantime, the group continues to hold events throughout the state and Butler County, including a “Write Your Rep Action Workshop” that was hosted at the Zelienople Public Library on Monday and a presentation at the South Butler Community Library in Saxonburg at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Fair Districts PA is a group formed by the League of Women Voters that seeks to change the way Pennsylvania draws its districts.

For more information visit fairdistrictspa.com.