Posted on 09/23/2003 6:32:18 AM PDT by Theodore R.
'Lightning bolt' map gets dim reception Perry's plan draws little local support
By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
AUSTIN — A congressional redistricting map created by the Governor's Office was released Monday as a compromise, but it was quickly rejected by some of the West Texas lawmakers it was drawn to appease.
The map drastically alters all three West Texas districts and adds the potential for a fourth. The map addresses only the western portion of the state, which has been a bone of contention between House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock.
The new map does not address problematic areas in urban Texas and in Central and East Texas.
Several area legislators have already rejected the map.
"It's a ridiculous looking plan," Jones said. "I don't think our area's going to like it a bit when they look at it."
The map has been dubbed the "lighting bolt" by lawmakers because it starts in the very northwest corner of the Panhandle, in Dallam County, and works it way back and forth to Hamilton and Bosque counties in Central Texas.
The map, however, does not pair U.S. Reps. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, and Charles Stenholm, D-Abilene, two members of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. The pairing of the two under the Texas House plan is adamantly opposed by many on the High Plains.
An open district would be created that includes Midland, Odessa and San Angelo.
Although the map does not pair Stenholm and Neugebauer, Jones said it mixes too many legislative interests, including agriculture, ranching, recreation, hunting and energy.
Duncan, who first saw the map late last week, believes it is a starting point for compromise. Duncan said he is glad that Craddick is willing to compromise and is happy to see Gov. Rick Perry become involved in the process.
"I appreciate the governor's help and the speaker being open-minded to other solutions," Duncan said. "There is a free flow of ideas back and forth — a little give and take."
Craddick wants a district anchored by Midland and Odessa, which are now combined with Lubbock in Congressional District 19.
Laney said he thinks "very little of the map."
The districts' boundaries bring them closer to suburban and metropolitan areas and erode rural representation, he said.
"It is not very conducive to representation of rural Texas," Laney said. "It is as bad as the previous (House) map."
The districts all creep toward Dallas and Fort Worth and the expanding population of the Hill Country, Laney said.
Craddick and Phil King, R-Weatherford, said they still prefer the map the House has passed three times, but they believe Perry's plan is a good compromise.
"Once West Texas is settled, then we can go to (House-Senate) conference and negotiate," King said.
West Texas is difficult to map because of the great number of counties needed to arrive at the necessary population for a congressional district, King said.
"This is the first (map) we've seen that I think we've got a chance," King said.
King authored the map already passed by the House. He presented the Perry's version Monday and defended it.
"West Texas needs to be dealt with before the rest of the state," King said.
West Texans are content with current congressional districts, Duncan said.
"What I've heard in the district is, 'I like the way we are,' " he said.
Also, Perry's map fails to address the "sensitively negotiated" areas on the eastern side of the state, Duncan said. The Senate spent six weeks working on those areas, and Perry's map does not "interface" with them, Duncan said.
State Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, said Monday night that he had not seen the map.
Jones said he was told by the Legislative Council that the map "does not fit with the rest of the state" so people cannot analyze its effect on the rest of the state.
The issue of redistricting will be debated by the full Texas Senate today.
skitchen@lubbockonline.com 766-8753
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