Womack: Proposed Congressional map is ‘absurd’

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, said Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 23) that a proposed plan that would pull Fayetteville and portions of eastern Washington County into the 4th Congressional District “redefines March madness.”

“With this plan, we have a very low seed that is apparently still in the game against several top seed teams. You can say that this redefines March madness," Womack quipped.

The House and Senate State Agencies committees are expected on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday to send redistricting plans to each chamber for final legislative approval, part of the charge of the Arkansas General Assembly to redraw Congressional District lines after each decennial Census. (Watch The City Wire for updates on committee action.)

The final map — referred to as "Fayetteville to the Fourth" — has been at the center of controversy. If approved, the new lines would pull Fayetteville out of the 3rd Congressional District — the district served by Womack — and place it in the 4th District with Texarkana, Pine Bluff, El Dorado and other southern Arkansas towns.

Also, the proposed map splits Crawford and Washington Counties, as well as Garland, Lincoln and White Counties. Hot Springs Village is moved into the Second District and the city of Searcy remains in the Second, too. Baxter County moves from the First to the Third District.

Of course, the biggest controversy will involve the map’s foray through Crawford County and into the greater Fayetteville area in Washington County. (Link here for more details on the plan and an image of the proposed redistricting.)

“I had heard about it, but only saw it the first time today (Mar. 23) when I pulled it up on The City Wire,” Womack said when asked if he had been aware of the plan. “I never believed that it had the ability to gather any traction, but it just shows the unpredictability of the Arkansas General Assembly.”

Womack credited the unpredictability in this case to pure political motivations.

“It is a flawed plan that is nothing more than an idea floated out of political selfishness. It serves no other purpose except to try to protect certain political interests while at the same time undoing years of hard work by very, very important stakeholders in (the 3rd District) who have worked to create synergies between cities and counties in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley,” Womack said.

Democrats in the Fayetteville area, including Sen. Sue Madison, D-Fayetteville, have lobbied for the plan to increase their chances of being competitive in a Congressional race. Democrats have not won in the 3rd District since 1966. In the November 2010 election, Womack defeated Fayetteville attorney David Whitaker with 72% of the vote.

Womack said there are many good plans that have been floated, and he has been committed to staying out of the discussion — with one exception.

“I’ve been on record all along during this as saying that all I will do is cry foul against something that is silly,” Womack explained.

Womack does not plan to contact leadership of the State Agencies Committees, but instead is using the media and Sen. Bill Pritchard, R-Elkins, to share his thoughts on the Congressional redistricting process.

Also, Womack said he talked to 4th District Congressman Mike Ross, D-Prescott, about the proposed “Fayetteville to the Fourth” map. Womack would not share details of the conversation, but did say Ross is not lobbying for the plan.

Approval of “this absurd plan” could backfire on those who support it, Womack predicted.

“I don’t see how this will be well-received by the voting public. … If this goes through, I think it has a chance of backfiring on the political leadership that approves it,” Womack said.