Lowndes County could put an end to the redistricting controversy on Tuesday. Supervisors plan to vote on proposed plans at their regular meeting on that day.
Oxford-based Bridge and Watson proposed three plans for redrawing county lines. Supervisor Leroy Brooks also put a plan on the table for consideration.
While Brooks” plan hasn”t garnered support from other board members, he sees it as the “most equitable” option.
“In many instances, the Justice Department looks at the best plan that has been submitted, and I think that is my plan because what it does is brings some parity to all the districts,” said Brooks, District 5 supervisor. “I”m looking at what I consider the very best plan. I”m not going to support those other plans. I”m looking at a plan that provides equality.”
Brooks” plan shuffles portions of several voting precincts — part of the Fairgrounds from District 4 to District 5, part of Trinity from District 1 to District 5, part of Columbus High from District 1 to 5, part of Sale from District 3 to 1, part of Coleman from District 4 to 5, part of University from District 4 to 5 and another part of University from District 5 to 2.
The end result is a 70-percent black District 5 (currently is 63.5 percent), with the most minority impact is District 4, which would go from 79.4-percent black to 73.58-percent black.
District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders said Brooks” plan is “totally unacceptable” since it affects “every single district” and would shift far too many people.
“I think the least disruptive of all the plans is Alternate 1,” said Sanders, noting the plan only would change the districts of 100-190 people and would cause no change to Districts 2 and 4.
“It was created by Chris Watson who didn”t have any political agenda, and it was done very objectively without any input from any elected official,” Sanders said.
“Right now, I think we could take the first plan that was submitted and had no political input and add a little or take a little away from it, and I think it would be a workable plan,” said District 3 Supervisor John Holliman.
“I could live with any of the three plans that were proposed by Bridge and Watson … And I think that we need to choose between those three,” said District 2 Supervisor Frank Ferguson. “I don”t know why (Brooks) has to have a special plan. No one else has a special plan. I”m certainly not asking for any special concessions nor do I need a plan of my own. It”s costing the taxpayers time and money to debate this issue.”
Ferguson thought the initial plan, Alternate 1, presented to the board Monday, was a good option.
Alternate 1 moves part of the Sale voting precinct, north of Highway 182, out of District 3 and into District 1 and part of the Trinity voting precinct, south of 182 and east of the Luxapalila Creek, out of District 1 and into District 5. Districts 2 and 4 are unaffected in this plan. However, it brings District 5 from 63.5 percent black to 61.3-percent black. Brooks wants at least 65-percent black to ensure a “strong black district.”
Smith and Brooks requested additional proposals, which were presented Friday morning. Smith hoped the additional options would offer a plan to which the supervisors all could agree.
“I have mixed feelings about the whole process, and right now I”m kind of disappointed that, as a board, we haven”t been able to come up with a plan,” Smith said. “I”m very disappointed in my board. I thought we might be able to agree on this by ourselves. Apparently, that”s not the case. Right now, if we can”t get a consensus on any of the plans on the table, there”s no need to support any of them.”
When redistricting came up 10 years ago, when the last census figures were released, the supervisors appointed a committee to decide on and propose a plan to the county board, Smith said, suggesting the issue may call for the same action now.
“If we can”t do it between (Watson) and ourselves, then we need to get a group of people without political (interests) together, who can,” Smith said. “That or we”re going to find ourselves running twice.”
Candidates already have qualified for county elections, and delays in the redistricting process could lead to them having to run twice.
Factor in, Brooks already is strongly opposed to the initial redistricting proposal, and Lowndes may be pushing it to get a plan through the Justice Department by June 3. The Justice Department could take 30-60 days to review the plan. Supervisors also are responsible for redrawing justice court and constable districts; they also must approve redrawn Lowndes County School District lines.
Redistricting plans go before the Justice Department to ensure they are fair to minorities. Review could take 30-60 days. And if a plan isn”t accepted by June 3, the old lines stand for the 2011 elections.
Litigation can further muddy the issue, forcing candidates to run under the old districts, which could mean another election once redistricting is complete.
Bridge and Watson”s Alternate 2 moves parts of Sale from District 3 to District 1, parts of Columbus High from District 1 to District 5, part of Trinity from District 1 to 4, parts of Trinity from 1 to Districts 4 and 5, parts of Coleman from District 4 to 5, parts of Mitchell from District 4 to 5 and part of Union from District 5 to 2.
Alternate 3 moves parts of Sale from District 3 to 1, part of Mitchell from District 4 to 5, parts of Coleman from District 4 to 5 and parts of Trinity to District 4 and 5.
If supervisors approve one of the redistricting maps presented by Watson, Brooks plans to submit his map to the Justice Department, as well.
“Under the voting-rights act, the Justice Department is looking at what happens to those two majority-black districts, which have been in place a long time,” Brooks said. “It”s really not about me. I have won in districts with 62- and 63-percent (black population). It”s about being fair.”
Bridge and Watson is working on redistricting plans for Lee, Monroe, DeSoto and Tunica counties, as well.
“So far, there”s been some level of controversy with all of them except Tunica,” Watson said. “(In Tunica), there”s fewer people to work with as far as bringing about the balance.”
County lines are reviewed every 10 years when census data is released to ensure the population in each district is about the same.
“I”m not surprised at the controversy because of the political nature of redistricting,” Watson said, noting the time taken for the process can vary widely county by county.
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