Greenwood ‘underway’ on ward redistricting

Greenwood attorney Mike Hamby said Wednesday (May 11) that a lawsuit filed seeking to force the city of Greenwood to redistrict wards is “moot” because the redistricting process was already underway.

On Monday, former Greenwood City Councilman James Newcomb filed a lawsuit against the six members of the city council “to compel” the city to redistrict the three wards. According to the lawsuit, filed by Fort Smith attorneys Brian Meadors and Amanda Thomas, Ward 1 has a population of 2,098, Ward 2 is at 3,014 and Ward 3 has 3,975 residents.

Greenwood City Council members are:
Ward 1, Position 1: Jim Gossett
Ward 1, Position 2: Rod Powell
Ward 2, Position 1: Lance Terry
Ward 2, Position 2: Tim Terry
Ward 3, Position 1: A.C. Brown Jr.
Ward 3, Position 2: Dr. Lee Johnson

“The populations of the Wards are grossly unequal. Ward Three has a population that is nearly double that of Ward One,” the lawsuit noted.

Language of the lawsuit also said the council “has been put on notice” of the unequal representation but “has refused” to equalize the wards as mandated by Arkansas law.

But Hamby, attorney for the city of Greenwood, disagrees. He is working on a new map and said he thought the council is also working on a map.

“We were in the process of redistricting anyway,” Hamby said, but added that he would respond to the lawsuit explaining the progress made on redistricting.

Hamby said a new map is likely to be presented to the council in June, with approval coming in July or August. He said there is no immediate deadline for drawing new lines, but is advising the city to have a new map in place well before the next municipal election.