After a week of debate and the threat of litigation, Lowndes County supervisors Tuesday approved a redistricting plan.
The plan moves part of the Sale voting precinct, north of Highway 182, out of District 3 and into District 1, part of the Trinity voting precinct, south of 182 and east of the Luxapalila Creek, out of District 1 and into District 5, and part of the Union Academy precinct from District 5 to District 2. District 4 is unaffected.
The motion initially passed 3-1, with District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks voting against and District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith abstaining from the vote.
Later, Smith requested the matter be brought up again, so he could change his vote.
“This redistricting plan has been a struggle because from day one I realized this entire process impacted me more than anyone else,” Smith said, noting he has received several phone calls about the issue from constituents, who direct how they vote. “That said, it would be totally irresponsible of me to not vote one way or the other.”
The plan is an adjustment to the first redistricting proposal submitted last Monday by Oxford-based Bridge and Watson, in response to feedback from supervisor meetings held last week. It is a modification of the firm”s original plan.
“It”s important that we do this because when we go to the Justice Department, they need to know we have a 4-to-1 vote,” Sanders said of formally recognizing Smith”s change in vote.
Brooks previously said he would file suit or submit his own redistricting plan to the Justice Department if he was not in agreement with the plan other board members approved, though he declined to comment Tuesday on how we would proceed.
Bridge and Watson presented three plans to supervisors last week, and Brooks submitted his own plan for consideration.
The county”s redistricting plan will be submitted to the Justice Department for approval. The Justice Department reviews redistricting plans to ensure they are fair to minorities. States and counties redistrict every 10 years, after results from the U.S. Census are released.
Under the new plan, District 1”s voting population is 71.2-percent white; District 2 is 69.8-percent white; District 3 is 83.2-percent white; District 4 is 79.4-percent black, and District 5 is 62-percent black. Brooks wants at least a 65-percent black majority in District 5.
In other matters, the board voted 3-2 to appoint Columbus attorney Scott Colom to temporarily fill the District 2 Justice Court judge seat vacated by Mike Arledge. Arledge stepped down from the post to run for sheriff.
District 3 Supervisor John Holliman nominated accountant Bill Andrews to the seat. District 2 Supervisor Frank Ferguson voted with Holliman to appoint Andrews.
Smith nominated Colom. Smith, Brooks and Sanders voted to appoint Colom. Sanders said his vote was for Colom over Andrews, whom he called “a great guy,” due to Colom”s legal experience.
While the position does not call for candidates to be a lawyer, the post normally requires 30 hours of training.
“In an interim position like this, you don”t have time to go through 30 hours of training,” Sanders noted, adding Colom is “well qualified” to fill the seat without training.
Scott Colom is the son of Columbus attorney and philanthropist Wil Colom and Chancery Court Judge Dorothy Colom.
“I think I bring leadership experience and a new approach, a new set of eyes,” said Scott Colom, who also sees his experience in law as an advantage. “I really just hope to continue the work of the Justice Court judges now, to make it a seamless transition for the new judge.”
Scott Colom, 28, has practiced primarily civil litigation for the past two years in Columbus and Jackson. He also has handled criminal cases. Scott Colom received his bachelor”s degree from Millsaps College in Jackson and completed law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Requirements for Justice Court judges call for candidates to be a qualified elector and a resident of the county for two years. They conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases; they also handle civil cases involving $3,500 or less.
Full-time Justice Court judges are paid $44,700 per year. Scott Colom will receive the same pay in the interim.
Others who applied for the job include Monique Montgomery, Ron Cooke and Ted Richards, all of whom are running for Justice Court judgeships. Supervisors previously agreed not to appoint anyone who has qualified to run for Justice Court judge.
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