Proposed Senate districts: ‘Slammed again’

It may not be the final map, but a map showing new Arkansas Senate districts would certainly change the political dynamic in the Fort Smith region — to include a possible Republican primary race between Sen. Jake Files of Fort Smith and Sen. Bruce Holland of Greenwood.

Or, depending on the residence of Holland in relation to the new lines, a GOP primary could pit Holland against former State Rep. Rick Green of Van Buren for a Senate district that stretches from Crawford County down to Scott County.

Jason Tolbert, with Talk Business, produced late Wednesday what he said may be a map “leaked” from the office of Gov. Mike Beebe. Beebe, along with Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and Secretary of State Mark Martin, are members of the Board of Apportionment (BOA). Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said later that the map was pushed out Wednesday, nearly a week earlier than expected.

"We’ve been drawing maps since the last public hearing," DeCample said. "This map may change between now and next Tuesday."

The final draft maps are scheduled for release on July 19, and the BOA is expected to vote on new House and Senate maps on July 29.

The new lines alter the Senate district in Fort Smith by moving the lines south and east into Sebastian County to create what appears to be a Fort Smith-Greenwood district. If the lines hold and include Holland’s place of residence, it could pit first-term Sens. Files and Holland against each other in a GOP primary.

Also, the district lines from the Beebe map shows a Senate district 9 including an eastern portion of Crawford County, the eastern and southern portion of Sebastian County, the southwestern edge of Franklin County and all of Scott County. The district also includes the northern tip of Fort Smith. (See map below.)

Green, a three-term member of the Arkansas House of Representatives who was term-limited out, has made no secret of his desire to run for the Senate. Although he was aware the districts would be redrawn based on the 2010 Census data, he had hoped to run in a Senate district that more closely reflected the Senate district boundaries represented by Sen. Ruth Whitaker, R-Cedarville. Whitaker is term limited.

“Our area got slammed again,” Green told The City Wire, expressing his frustration about the possible new district lines.

By “again,” Green referred to Congressional redistricting that split Crawford County — and the city of Alma — down the middle between the 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts.

Green said he contacted a member of the Governor’s office late Wednesday and the spokesman confirmed that the map is a “working map” they plan to finish and release Monday. Green said he doesn’t like the new lines, but is not dissuaded from a Senate run.

“I expressed my concern about Crawford County being divided up yet again. After reviewing the map as it currently is presented I am still determined to seek what will be the District 9 State Senate seat,” Green noted in an e-mail interview. “I have checked the voting history for this area and believe that the next State Senator for District 9 will have to carry the city of Van Buren. My formal announcement will not be until after the final vote on July 29th by the Board of Apportionment.”

The map also has northern and eastern Crawford County in a Senate district (district 5) that stretches up through the southern part of Washington County, northern part of Franklin County, into Madison County and most of Carroll County (Eureka Springs) to the Missouri border. The district also includes a rural section of northwestern Johnson County.

The eastern region of the Fort Smith metro area would see a Senate district — parts of Franklin and Johnson counties and all of Logan and Yell counties — created that would not have a Senate incumbent. Parts of what would be Senate district 6 are now represented in parts by Whitaker, and Sens. Michael Lamoureux, R-Russellville, and Randy Laverty, D-Jasper.

The lack of incumbency in the new Senate district 6 could open the door for John Paul Wells, a Democrat from Paris, who lost the 2010 Senate race to Holland of Greenwood. Wells was a three-term House member who rose to leadership positions in the House before being term-limited out.