Minority communities, just like any other communities, deserve to be represented by leaders who understand the issues they face in their neighborhoods and towns. That is why I’m urging all Missourians to vote no on Amendment 1. This measure, called “Clean Missouri,” is a Trojan horse hidden behind popular ethics reforms. It would radically change how state legislative districts are redrawn, and intentionally or unintentionally, it would reduce the voice and power of the African-American community in our Capitol.

Amendment 1 is really about gerrymandering. It would eliminate Missouri’s current bipartisan redistricting process that requires contiguous and compact districts in favor of gerrymandered districts that have to be competitive on a partisan basis. The only way to get to the mandate laid out in the amendment would be to create many long, thin districts where citizens of St. Louis city and county could be represented by legislators from Jefferson, Pike or Lincoln County.

This amendment is designed to increase Democratic representation in the Legislature, but it would do so at the expense of African-American representation. African-American leaders across the state are opposing Amendment 1 because they know it would dilute the interests of minority communities and make it harder to rally around urban issues in Jefferson City. One of Amendment 1’s chief opponents is U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay. Also opposing Amendment 1 are Kansas City’s largest and most influential African-American political organization, Freedom Inc., and Kansas City’s only African-American state senator, Kiki Curls.

As a black Republican, I don’t always agree with Congressman Clay, but I respect him and I admire his willingness to put the interests of his community before those of his party, because that’s what real leaders do. We both want our communities to be represented by the people who live, work and raise families near us, not by representatives from two counties away who don’t understand our local issues.

Strong bipartisan forces are lining up to oppose Amendment 1 and stop this harmful measure. In fact, this issue is bringing together urban and rural voters. St. Louisans expect our state senators and representatives to live as close as possible to us and to fight for our community’s interests in Jefferson City. Rural communities expect the same from their representatives. This unique and growing coalition opposed to Amendment 1 understands the harm gerrymandering would cause to communities in all corners of Missouri.

As for the ethics reform measures that are presented as the front for Amendment 1, they are mostly nibbling around the edges. For example, supporters of “Clean Missouri” claim to be removing “big money” from campaigns, but Amendment 1 barely changes anything. In 2016, voters enacted contribution limits of $2,600 per person for state legislative and statewide candidates. Amendment 1 keeps the limits for statewide office the same, reduces the limit for candidates for state representative to $2,000, and reduces the limit for state Senate candidates by a barely noticeable $100, to $2,500.

Also, while I have joined my House colleagues to pass a lobbyist gift ban each one of my four years in the Legislature, Amendment 1 doesn’t even go that far. It limits gifts to $5 per lobbyist per “occasion,” which would make life a little more confusing for lobbyists and their staff, but is not an outright ban. And to my dismay, nothing in Amendment 1 affects local elected officials, who can take unlimited donations, unlimited lobbyist gifts, and can serve as lobbyists while holding public office.

The Legislature can and should enact meaningful ethics reforms without amending the constitution to radically change our bipartisan redistricting process.

For many voters in St. Louis, it will come down to this: Do you care more about helping the Democratic Party or about ensuring you have elected leaders who understand your community and the challenges you face? I believe the more people learn the truth, the more they will reject this initiative. I urge voters to join me, Congressman Clay and many others in voting no on Amendment 1 on Tuesday.

State Rep. Shamed Dogan, a Republican from Ballwin, is the vice chair of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.