COLUMBUS — Redistricting talks Thursday continued, between members of the Columbus City Council and consultant Chris Watson of Oxford-based Bridge and Watson. Considering a 20 percent variance between the city’s highest populated ward — Ward 6 — and its least populated — Ward 4, Watson presented a proposed redistricting map, in which the variance would be cut to 9.5 percent.
“We’ve created a map that tries to find a balance between the desires of the councilmen and, at the same time, protect minority voters,” Watson said. “This plan is just a starting point. If we need to have modification discussions, we can certainly do that.”
Under Watson’s proposal, Wards 1 and 2 would remain unchanged. Ward 3 would lose 350 people and a block on Hemlock Street to Ward 4. Ward 5 would absorb everything south of Waverly Road and one block of 6th Street N to 11th Street N. Watson said minority voters have decreased in Ward 5, since the 2000 census.
“Ward 5 may be of particular interest to the Department of Justice,” Watson said.
The proposal denies the request of Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens, who asked for his ward to lose 118 people around the downtown area.
“If we met (Mickens) request, we would have to put them in Ward 5. Adding whites to Ward 5 is not what we want to do,” Watson said.
“If this plan were submitted as it is, it would be approved by the Department of Justice, in my opinion,” Vice Mayor and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin said.
Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem asked the council for some additional time to review the proposal. The council tabled the measure, until Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.
“It wouldn’t matter if everyone supported this plan, there will still have to be a public hearing, before it can be submitted to the Department of Justice,” City Attorney Jeff Turnage said. “But, the sooner you get this done, the sooner the process can start.”
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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