Redistricting maps shrink minority districts, pit incumbents

story by Roby Brock and Michael Tilley
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All 3 members of the Arkansas Board of Apportionment (BOA) released their final maps, which carved out 135 new Senate and House districts.

Senate seats attempted to include a target of 83,312 voters, while House seats aimed for a population base of 29,159. Gov. Mike Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel — the two Democrats on the BOA panel — released very similar maps, while Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin provided a final map with different boundaries.

FORT SMITH REGION
While there will certainly be some who criticize the redistricting process as unfair or partisan, some legislators and potential candidates said the redistricting had been handled fairly.

“Redistricting is a very complex process that by its very nature will be partisan to some and non-partisan to others," said Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith. "I can tell you that I had input into the district I represent, and although it didn’t come out exactly like I had hoped, it is fair to me and to our communities.”

Files also said he sees benefits to a district that includes most of Fort Smith and Greenwood.

“There are a lot of commonalities that Fort Smith and Greenwood share, and with the land at Chaffee bringing them closer together, I would hope that we take this opportunity to build strength together,” Files explained. “I agree with what the (Fort Smith) Chamber has promoted for a long time … what is good for Fort Smith is good for Greenwood and vice versa. I look forward to representing both areas and being an effective voice for our Region in Little Rock.”

Former Rep. Rick Green, a Republican from Van Buren, commented on a local Senate seat that was radically reshaped from its present form and is likely to draw primary and general election competition.

The proposed Senate District 9 includes 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. Green is running for the seat, and he could face incumbent Sen. Bruce Holland, R-Greenwood, and former State Rep. John Verkamp. Rep. Tracy Pennartz, D-Fort Smith, is term limited in her House seat and may also enter the Senate District 9 race.

“I feel that a Van Buren candidate has an edge due to voting population in recent primaries. I might add, I’m in the race for sure,” Green said.

Rep. Stephanie Malone, R-Fort Smith, is reserving comment.

“I have no comment at this time on any of the maps. When the final map is out I will have one,” Malone said.

STATEWIDE CHANGES
There were 11 majority-minority House districts created by the redrawn lines and 4 Senate seats submitted by Beebe and McDaniel, who will control the votes at a July 29 BOA meeting on the final maps.  A majority-minority district is defined as having more than 50% African-American population in its boundaries. From the last redistricting process there were also 4 majority-minority Senate seats, but there were 13 in the House.

District 93 in northwest Arkansas could become the first district with a representative of Hispanic origin. The seat has a 45% Latino voter make-up, making it the largest bloc of voters in the district.

"District 93 is a district where Hispanics will have a stronger voice than they’ve had in the past and that’s one of the things we looked at trying to do," Governor’s spokesman Matt Decample said.

There were immediate observations to draw regarding potential match-ups between incumbent legislators or districts unfavorable to incumbents.

For instance, Rep. David Sanders, R-Little Rock, was redrawn into a majority-minority district, which would favor an African-American candidate.

"When we moved into this house, we had 3 children. We now have 5. We’ve outgrown our house. We’ve had a ‘for sale’ sign in front of it for awhile. We’ve been looking to move, and my plans are to be back in the legislature," Sanders tells Talk Business.

First term Representatives Linda Collins-Smith, D-Pocahontas, and Lori Benedict, R-Sturkie, were drawn into the same House district in an example of incumbents pitted against one another.

Several State Senators will see dramatically different districts, such as the ones presently represented by Republican Sens. Jonathan Dismang, Missy Irvin, and Jason Rapert.

A congested Democratic primary could take place in southeast Arkansas between Rep. Eddie Cheatham, D-Crossett, and former Reps. Gregg Reep, D-Warren, and Johnny Bolin, D-Crossett. Speaker of the House Robert Moore, D-Arkansas City, also resides in the large Senate seat, but has not expressed an interest in running.

A number of scenarios abound in northwest Arkansas that could result in House members facing current Senators.

Link here to a Talk Business story to see maps and demographic data behind the new boundary lines.