Map Passes House Committee
By Byron LaMasters
This map passed the State House Redistricting Committee today. Take a look at it. Republicans have gotten a little smarter. They're finally figured out that significantly tampering with Gene Green's district, Chris Bell's district, Martin Frost's district or Lloyd Doggett's district would likely violate the Voting Rights Act, so they pretty much left them alone. Endangered in the House Committee map are Chet Edwards, Charlie Stenholm, Jim Turner, Max Sandlin, Nick Lampson and Ralph Hall (it's nice to see how they treat him for voting with the GOP so much). My biggest concerns in this map relating to the voting rights act are the splits in McClennan and Jefferson Counties. McClennan is split between the the 17th and 31st, whereas Jefferson would be split between the the 4th and the 9th. I think that this would definitely create problems with the Voting Rights Act as the minority communities in McClennan and Jefferson Counties are currently represented by Chet Edwards and Nick Lampson in minority influence districts, would likely no longer have the opportunity to help elect the candidate of their choice.... but that's just my take.
I would doubt that Sens. Duncan, Fraiser or Averitt would vote for this map, seeing how it divides Waco and takes Midland / Odessa out of a Lubbock based congressional district and creates a new Midland / Odessa one.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at September 15, 2003 09:55 PM
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Duncan went on record in Sunday's Lubbock Avalanche-Journal as stating that he would reject any map that squeezes the 19th and 17th districts in such a way as to (1) reduce by one the number of West Texas districts in Washington, or (2) pits Randy Neugebauer (R-Lubbock) against Charlie Stenholm (D-Abilene) in a future race. Duncan wants both men to continue serving.
This map won't get Duncan's approval. Not only does it weaken the West Texas contingent, but it puts Nawgy out of a job. The fresher-than-freshman real estate developer won't be able to unseat the senior minority voice on the Ag Committee here in farm and ranch land. Ain't gonna happen no matter what letter comes after the name.
The House map is still DOA. Ratliff, and possibly Bob Deuell R-Hunt won't allow a Session/Hall pairing, if Ralph wants to run again. Duncan is against a Neugbauer/Stenholm pairing. Kip Averrit, is against the splitting of McLennan county in any form.
