Commissioner Alisa Simmons presents redistricting alternatives in Tarrant County debate
Revised Article:
Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a Democrat, has lashed out against the unusual mid-decade redistricting process instigated by Republicans, accusing them of attempting to squeeze her out of her seat through underhand tactics.
Last month, Republicans on the Commissioners Court insisted on initiating the redistricting procedure, citing the need to overhaul the four commissioners' precincts. The current setup, they argued, was outdated and required an overhaul.
The proposals Simmons shared in a press release over the weekend would significantly revamp her Precinct 2 and Precinct 1, currently represented by fellow Democrat Roderick Miles Jr. Miles was recently elected, and Simmons is up for reelection next year.
"Let's cut the crap: this is a sneaky ploy to mute the voices from the very communities I've been voted to serve," Simmons wrote in the press release.
In the existing map, each of the four commissioners' precincts generally stays within one corner of Tarrant County, a square-shaped area. The proposed maps, released by Simmons, would almost reverse the positions of Precincts 1 and 2.
Precinct 1, currently encompassing southwest Tarrant County, would under the proposed map cover parts of south Fort Worth, stretch north through neighborhoods like the Historic Southside, and wind east along I-30, ending with a portion of Arlington.
On the contrary, Precinct 2, currently extending into Arlington, would retreat westwards through Fort Worth's southern suburbs, such as Crowley and a chunk of Burleson. The proposed maps suggest that Benbrook or White Settlement might be incorporated into Precinct 2.
Simmons and Miles represent predominantly minority precincts. If the new maps materialize, they risk stifling the voices of Precinct 2 voters, particularly those of color, Simmons stated in the press release.
"I won't sit idly by while my colleagues manipulate this process to rig the 2026 election," she said bluntly. "The people of Precinct 2 deserve the right to choose their commissioner—not have that choice stolen from them through racial gerrymandering. I stand with my community, and I'll fight this tooth and nail."
KERA News reached out to Republican County Judge Tim O'Hare for comment. As the judge represents the entire county, not a specific precinct, his involvement in the redistricting effort predates his current role. He presented the initiative to Commissioners Court, which passed 3–2, with backing from his fellow conservatives.
Republican County Commissioner Manny Ramirez, representing Precinct 4 in northwest Tarrant County, previously defended the need for redistricting, arguing that the precincts are unbalanced in terms of population.
However, Bob Heath, the attorney who led Tarrant County's last redistricting process, asserted that the precincts were balanced after the 2020 Census.
Ordinarily, redistricting takes place at the beginning of every decade, following the Census. In 2021, the Commissioners Court opted not to redraw the map at all. At the time, Heath's firm found that the precincts deviated from ideal size by just under 2% overall, while the overall deviation limit is 10%.
The extent to which the proposed maps would change the overall population imbalance between precincts remains unclear. However, Ramirez expressed his desire to create a map that brings the precincts as close to even as possible.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF), the conservative law firm spearheading the redistricting process, is slated to brief the Tarrant County Commissioners Court on the redistricting process during Tuesday's meeting, according to the agenda.
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- The news of the mid-decade redistricting process in Tarrant County has sparked controversy, with Commissioner Alisa Simmons accusing Republicans of trying to silence the voices of her community through underhand tactics and racial gerrymandering.
- The policy-and-legislation surrounding this redistricting process involves a debate over the need for redistricting, as some argue that the precincts are unbalanced, while others claim they were balanced according to the 2020 Census.
- The current redistricting process, instigated by Republicans, has political implications, as Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a Democrat, has vowed to fight against any changes to Precinct 2, fearing they might stifle the voices of her predominantly minority community and risk rigging the 2026 election.
