Staff Reports
After 38 years, the wait is over.
Jefferson City Council approved new Alderman Ward maps following a public hearing Tuesday evening.
According to the notice, and read at the beginning of the hearing by Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker, on January 21, the Council:
• established criteria for the purposes of redistricting,
• based upon an imbalance in the existing political boundaries, the Council ordered that the City undertake steps necessary to redistrict to achieve population balance under established standards and to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act,
• reviewed alternative plans for redistricting and participated in the revision of existing boundaries
Robert Bass from Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP, in Austin, was on hand to answer questions and describe the process and results of redistricting.
“The concept of periodic redistricting is Constitutionally based,” said Bass. “It’s based upon the periodic reapportionment of the US House of Representatives. The concept is so that the votes cast on floor of the House have roughly the same number of people behind them, so the weight of that vote is proportional to the population that elects that congressman. That’s been handed down to lower governments over time. Local governments are permitted not more than a 10% deviation, or top to bottom range, between the Wards. Your top to bottom range was in excess of 51%.
“The political boundaries were redrawn in 1983, as a result of litigation, and the last time it was redistricted was in 1997,” said Bass. “So it is time to look at these lines afresh.”
Working with Council, Bass developed a plan that passed both the Numerical Balance, or Constitutional Test or fairly even number of population in each ward, and the Voting Rights Test where minority populations have a significant portion of one or more of the districts that ensures the population is not fragmented or diluted.
Bass initially offered two other plans to Council, but they did not pass both tests.
“The way the population is located, the plans I drew unintentionally weakened the black population,” said Bass. “The council chose to offer a new plan that did not do this.”
Bass commended Aldermen for considering the needs of the population first instead of where the Aldermen resided in redrawing the lines.
“In drawing these lines there is some impact on incumbents, but come next election cycle they may find themselves running for office in a new district,” said Bass. “It’s rare, in my experience, that elected officials put their personal interests second to the public interest, but you should be commended for doing that.”
During the special meeting following the public hearing, Council voted to adopt the proposed plan. The new plan goes into effect immediately.
Aldermen who no longer live in the ward they were elected to represent, will continue to hold their position until the next election cycle. According to Bass, they are considered “at large” officers representing both the people who elected them as well as the newly defined ward.
Aldermen affected by this are Richard Turner (Ward 3 now in Ward 1), and Robin Moore (Ward 2 now in Ward 3). Ted Dickson’s (Ward 3, now in Ward 1) seat is up for election this year. Dickson has indicated he does not intend to seek re-election.
As a result, Ward 3 has a vacant seat this election.
As of close of business Wednesday, only 3 applications have been received at City Hall requesting a place on the ballot. They are:
– James Parsons for re-election to Ward 2 Alderman
– Rob Baker for re-election as Mayor
– Michelle Fox-Davis for election to Ward 1 Alderman
The deadline to file for a place on the ballot is 5 p.m. February 18.
The new maps for each Ward are located above on this page.