Area residents called on state lawmakers Monday to make new legislative districts more compact and to consider the growing Hispanic population.

The Illinois House Redistricting Committee heard testimony from 12 people at a public hearing in Elgin, one of 15 sessions it has scheduled statewide. Many of those testifying also called for transparency in the process, which is essentially in the hands of Democrats who control both the legislature and governor’s office.

State lawmakers are redrawing both congressional and legislative boundaries following the 2010 census, a process state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, who heads the committee, called “one of the most important building blocks of our democracy.”

Both Jaime Garcia, executive director of Centro de Informacion, and Isabel Anadon, policy analyst with the Latino Policy Forum, were among those who called for lawmakers to ensure the new boundaries take into account the growing Hispanic/Latino population in the area. The state experienced a 32.5 percent increase in that population while it was double that — 65 percent — in Kane County.

“It is important communities with shared interests be able to elect candidates that reflect their priorities and have an opportunity to hold them accountable for their actions,” Garcia said.

Tony Sanders, a spokesman for Elgin-based School District U-46, told the panel the state’s second largest district that spans 11 communities and three counties is no longer predominantly white and asked that legislators take its changes in size and demographics into account.

Many of the speakers said districts should not be so spread out, often a result of political parties trying to create districts that benefit them.

“Whether it’s by computer or consensus, I ask you design a state map with compact and contiguous districts,” said Sue Moylan, Gail Borden Public Library trustee who said she was speaking as a resident. “It would give us citizens easy access and contact with our representative and would give our representative ample opportunity to be present at functions that are important to us citizens and to be aware of our concerns.”

Dave Reece, chairman of Dundee Democrats who also spoke as a private citizen, said his representative in the 49th District is 20 miles from his home.

“I feel like we’re in no-man’s land right now,” he said.

Elgin’s Mayor-elect Dave Kaptain also called for more compact districts.

“We want to make sure the populations are represented and the districts as they are redrawn should be reflective of the people, the constituents of the representatives,” he said.

Glenn Spachman of Roselle asked lawmakers to take their re-election prospects out of the equation when considering boundaries.

“Please do the jobs you were elected to,” he said. “Become more representative of your constituents by preparing and adopting a legislative map that is fair, compact, contiguous, logical and better follows natural boundaries and existing boundaries.”

Daniel Kairis said most people feel “they are completely locked out of the political system” and he called for an independent resource to create boundaries, instead of legislators who stand to benefit.

The committee also heard numerous calls for transparency, including time for residents to review any proposed maps weeks before lawmakers vote on them.

“Absent this opportunity to view and comment on proposed legislative district boundaries, the Latino Policy Forum is unconvinced incumbent legislators will keep the best interest of Latinos in mind,” Anadon said.

Currie did not say whether that would happen, but pointed out the committee is holding 15 hearings, well above the required four, and that all testimony would be posted on its website.

State Rep. JoAnn Osmond, R-Antioch, also urged the release of any proposed maps prior to a vote.

“We have heard from the Democratic majority that makes lots of promises this will be an open process and transparent,” she said. “We need to keep them to their word.”

Residents can comment on boundaries by emailing ilredistricting@gmail.com. For more information visit www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting.