Tarrant County Mayoral Group Dissents over Redistricting Proposal
In Tarrant County, Texas, opposition is mounting against the county's mid-decade redistricting effort, with ten mayors voicing their concerns in an open letter to Judge Tim O'Hare. The mayors, including Fort Worth's Mattie Parker, Arlington's Jim Ross, and Grand Prairie's Ron Jensen, argue that the proposed redistricting maps may not meet state legal standards and urge a delay until the 2030 census.
The mayors allege that the proposed maps could limit the voices of minorities and potentially face legal challenges, citing concerns about the maps' compliance with state law and the U.S. Voting Rights Act's non-discrimination standard. They also question the legality of basing redistricting on 5-year-old census data, particularly given the county's significant growth since 2020.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross has taken additional steps, directing city staff to investigate the redistricting process's ethics and legality. If legal or ethical issues are found, Ross plans to ask the city council to pass a resolution opposing the efforts.
The redistricting attempt has been met with criticism from residents and Democratic county commissioners, Alisa Simmons and Roderick Miles. The commissioners' opponents argue that the move is an intentional effort to remove Simmons from office and further stack the court with Republican commissioners. Republicans have maintained that it's time for redistricting and have the legal right to do so, but Krause openly stated at a public hearing that he wants to redistrict to increase Republican power in the court.
The county has hired the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a right-wing advocacy firm, to provide potential maps. The redistricting process has been accelerated with a Republican-imposed June 3 deadline for selecting a new map, which some critics argue does not allow adequate time for public input, legal reviews, and thorough discussion.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, who voted against a similar resolution condemning the redistricting efforts, stated her opposition is focused on ensuring the process complies with the law. She joined the other mayors in sending a letter demanding a delay in redistricting until more accurate, up-to-date demographic information is available.
The mayors' letter does not mention accusations of gerrymandering and racism but instead focuses on the potential legal issues the county might face. Ross expressed concerns about a lack of transparency in the redistricting process, particularly for Arlington residents.
The commissioners court has held four public forums in the last month, with the final one scheduled for June 3, the day the court aims to select a new map. Ross plans to attend the meeting to voice his concerns directly, hoping to prompt the county officials to reconsider their approach to redistricting.
References:[1] Carter, A. (2022). Tarrant County's Redistricting Could Reshape Political Landscape. Fort Worth Report.[2] Alvarez, J. (2022). Fort Worth City Council Votes Against Tarrant County Redistricting. Star-Telegram.[3] KERA News. (2022). Tarrant County Redistricting: Opposition Mounts. KERA News.[4] Zimmerman, L. (2022). Tarrant County Mayors Oppose Redistricting in Open Letter. Fort Worth Report.[5] Rayas-Hanley, E. (2022). Tarrant County Redistricting: What You Need to Know. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.
- The mayors' letter to Judge Tim O'Hare highlights potential legal issues with the proposed redistricting maps, arguing that they may not meet state legal standards and could limit the voices of minorities, potentially facing legal challenges based on the Voting Rights Act's non-discrimination standard.
- Arlington Mayor Jim Ross has taken additional steps, directing city staff to investigate the redistricting process's ethics and legality, with plans to ask the city council to pass a resolution opposing the efforts if any legal or ethical issues are found.
- The opposition to Tarrant County's mid-decade redistricting attempt extends beyond the mayors, with Democratic county commissioners, residents, and some political commentators raising concerns about the process's transparency, compliance with state law, and potential gerrymandering, citing the accelerated timeline and the hiring of a right-wing advocacy firm to provide potential maps.
