Senate Map Targets Frost
By Byron LaMasters
Sen. Chris Harris (R-Arlington) will release two redistricting maps this afternoon. Aparantly, Rep. Martin Frost (D-Arlington) is now a target. I do believe that it is nearly impossible to draw a district where Frost could not win without violating the Voting Rights Act, but here's what the Austin American Statesman says about it:
State Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, said he will be presenting two proposed congressional maps Wednesday in which Democrats will find "very little" to like.
Harris said his maps would "take out" the senior Democratic member of Congress, Martin Frost of Arlington, because Harris' constituents want him gone. Frost has been in Congress since 1979.
Harris' maps come as a majority of the Senate's 12 Democrats and one Senate Republican continue to oppose any changes to the current boundaries for Texas' 32 congressional districts.
[...]
Harris did not estimate how many more Republicans could be elected if either of the maps was adopted but said either would increase their membership in Congress. He also said each map would create a new Hispanic district in south Texas and an African American district in Houston.
[...]
Unlike a map that has gotten state House approval, Harris' maps would leave McLennan County, including Waco, in a single district.
Harris said the primary difference between his two maps is that one divides Webb County in south Texas, which he really doesn't want to do.
He said the process is far from over because apparently a third map, with Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, as author, is also expected to be released Wednesday.
Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, is the chairman of the senate Jurisprudence Committee that is dealing with redistricting. He said the committee will want to take several days of testimony on the maps and other senators may be bringing additional maps.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst predicted no map would clear the committee and reach the Senate floor until sometime next week.
I'll post maps and comment on them when I see them.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at July 16, 2003 02:42 PM
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