New district lines upset Quorum Court members

story by Aric Mitchell
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Redistricting discontent reigned over the Sebastian County Quorum Court meeting Tuesday night (Oct. 18), and most of it was coming from two members: Bob Schwartz and Leo Faulkner.

“I was moved to where I am now 10 years ago because of the population,” Schwartz said. “I’ve done my best to serve this county, but now (because of the redistricting), I have to run against a quorum court member that’s one of the best we’ve had. It breaks my heart,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz continued: “Where in the state of Arkansas have two JPs ran against each other? I think it’s ridiculous, and of all my county government time, this is something that’s been on my mind. I don’t understand how you can put Mr. Faulkner’s house in District 12. Now he has to run against me, and he’s been there (in District 6) for years. Last time (election) I won 2-1. I don’t want to be 2-1 to Leo and I don’t want him to be 2-1 to me. I know a lot of folks around here may be thinking, ‘Boy, I’m gonna watch that, that’s gonna be a lot of fun.’ Well, it’s not gonna be fun for me.”

Faulkner also voiced his unhappiness, saying, “In the past, they would have always worked around you. That’s what they’ve always done. I understand they’re trying to square it up, but this Election Commission has the option to put the lines where they want.”

Election coordinator Jerry Huff disagreed Huff said minority populations cannot be divided, and so it falls on coordinators, such as himself and Jan Haver, to devise a strategy that will agree with State House, State Senate, and Federal Congressional jurisdictions. Due to the closeness of Schwartz and Faulkner’s residences, the proposal will have them living in the same district, forcing them to run against each other should the Election Commission approve.

Under the new guidelines, which are revisited every 10 years per U.S. Census data and federal and state requirements, the Election Commission is tasked with keeping all quorum court district populations at a target of 9,673 with a +/-5% margin of error. Sebastian County grew from approximately 116,000 to 126,000 in a 10-year period, mirroring the national average’s increase (9.7%). The new data will also require the county to add 18 precincts, moving from 92 to 110.

“District 12 (Schwartz’s district) lost population. Leo’s (Faulkner-6th) gained. They live very close to each other, closer than any other JPs. We had to make up that population loss to satisfy federal law,” Huff said.

Schwartz commented that “we should have been in there for the change,” stating “maybe we could have understood it better.”

But Huff told The City Wire this was not the first time Schwartz and Faulkner were made aware of the move, stating they were each consulted with individually and “in a three- or four-hour meeting” prior to Tuesday’s presentation. When asked whether any other Justices of the Peace have had issue with the redistricting plans, Huff said no other JP has openly disapproved.

The Sebastian County Election Commission will vote Friday morning on the proposed changes that were presented to the court Tuesday night. Deadline for approval is Jan. 2, 2012.

In other news, the quorum court tabled an ordinance to review additional expenditures for the River Valley Sports Complex until next month, and Beverly Jeffery of Mansfield, Ark., was approved for appointment to a second five-year term on the Sebastian County Library Board.

The next regular meeting of the Quorum Court is set for Nov. 15, 2011.