A new ordinance regarding redistricting will soon be brought before the Columbus City Council for approval. The ordinance is the next step in getting the council’s approved map before the US Department of Justice.
“We are preparing an ordinance for the council to approve that describes the boundaries and voting precincts as they set forth when they adopted the proposed redistricting map,” Chris Watson of Bridge and Watson said. “Once this is approved, we will send the plan before the Department of Justice where it will be approved or sent back for more work.”
The council plan, which was approved on a 4-2 vote, would cut the population variance to 9.5 percent. There is a 20 percent variance between the city’s most populated ward, Ward 6, and its least populated, Ward 4. The plan, which was designed by Bridge and Watson, was met with opposition from Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens and Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem, both of whom voted against its approval.
An alternate plan designed with input from Karriem, Mickens and some black ministers including Karriem’s brother and former city councilman, Kamal Karriem, will also be submitted to the DOJ. The plan creates a super majority black ward in Ward 2.
Although other groups, including the Lowndes County Democratic Party and the NAACP, were said to be drawing up their own plans, Watson said no additional plans had been submitted.
While Columbus prepares for its DOJ submission, Mississippi sent two versions for its state-wide redistricting to Washington.
“(Tuesday) in D.C., Sen. Merle Flowers (R-Southaven) presented the Senate’s redistricting plan to the DOJ for approval,” said Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus). “Rep. Bill Denny (R-Jackson) will be presenting the House plan for redistricting.”
The House plan will increase majority minority districts in the state from 43 to 44. Opponents of the Denny Map say it was drawn up to the disadvantage of white Democrats. Five of the districts affected by the redistricting will place incumbents against incumbents with three of the five races placing white incumbent Democrats against one another.
The Senate plan creates a new district in largely Republican DeSoto County. It also puts two white Democrats from north Mississippi into one district — second-term Sen. Bill Stone of Ashland and fifth-term Sen. Nickey Browning of Pontotoc. This was done to keep the Senate seats at 52.
Both the Senate and the House plans were contentious among Democrats, said Chism. However, he said neither plan weakens majority minority districts.
“In the house, we had two Democrat consultants and one Republican,” said Chism. “Our attorney said the map meets the requirements of Sections 2 and 5 of the Voters Rights Act of 1965. We think our plan will be approved. They may pass the House plan and send the Senate plan back. We don’t know. This is really a Democrat/Republican issue.”
The DOJ will have 60 days to approve the plans or send them back to the state for additional work.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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