No, the technology I used, Geographic Information Systems, was routinely used to map and manage various spatially distributed resources important to municipal operations. They relied on it for a variety of government functions, and they knew exactly how it worked, and that it was effective.

But the purpose of redistricting/reapportionment is to isolate or consolidate voter blocks, to dilute or concentrate constituencies to ensure or deny them political power. The idea that a computer algorithm that didn't know or care what your race, income, or political affiliation was was going to draw simple, rational and fair commission district boundaries was not what they wanted to hear.

By the way, this has nothing to do with political party. Both sides do it and are both equally guilty of abusing it. Regardless of ideology, politicians are all primarily businessmen or lawyers. They talk a lot about freedom, enterprise, and justice, but all they really care about is getting their way and maximizing their profit.

VRB, if you ever learn anything from this board, let it be this: whoever controls the economic power, has the political power. Sure, it sometimes works both ways, but as a rule, money beats guns every time.