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DEL.ICIO.USA big day for maps
We don't know if this board can take politics out of redistricting, but they could have quite a cocktail party.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday was sort of a triple-witching day for redistricting junkies.
First, state Rep. Jane Kidd filed a motion with the federal court panel that drew the state House and Senate maps in 2004, asking them to uphold their own handiwork and overturn the changes to the Senate map made in this year’s legislative session. We ought to know today whether the court is going to jump into this before qualifying begins next week.
As the day drew to an end, the Justice Department faxed its clearance under the Voting Rights Act of the new map. That was expected.
Meanwhile, Gov. Sonny Perdue was announcing 11 appointments to his Independent Redistricting Task Force, which is charged with coming up with a way for the state to avoid the sort of line-drawing anxiety that has come up every year or so during this decade.
Good luck on that one.
We must say it’s an interesting group Perdue has choses for this difficult and ultimately thankless task, worth mentioning all 11:
- The chair is former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Clark.
- Veronica Biggins, director of presidential personnel in the Clinton administration, who has a ton of Atlanta civic and business cred.
- Banker Sonny Deriso, from Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor’s home town of Albany, who chairs the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.
- Macon lawyer Frank Jones, who returned to be counsel to his old firm, Jones, Cork and Miller, after retiring from King and Spalding. He’s a former president of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
- Former state Sen. Randy Hall of Augusta.
- Dink NeSmith of Athens, co-owner and president of the Community Newspapers chain. Like Jones, he’s also on the Commission for a New Georgia.
- Steve Smith of Atlanta, vice president of corporate responsibility for Turner Broadcasting System.
- John Sours of the Atlanta law firm Wasson, Sours and Harris. An active Republican and a big John McCain guy.
- Frank Strickland of the Atlanta law firm Strickland, Brockington and Lewis. A key Republican lawyer who has kept an eye on the past few redistricting sessions.
- Kennesaw State poly sci professor and political consultant Kerwin Swint, who’s latest book is titled “Mud: The Top 25 Negative Political Campaigns of All Time.” (We’ve covered several of them, btw.)
- Columbus businessman William Turner, who’s served on a number of top boards, including Coca-Cola and Georgia Power.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By UGA 72
April 22, 2006 01:33 AM | Link to this
Isn’t it interesting that whenever these White Collar Panels are proposed they never include ordinary voters. You would think that just every now and then you’d get regular citizens who work for a living and might bring a tiny bit of common sense to the table. Every person on the list has a vested interest in one or the other political parties, and I dare say that common sense would be very uncommon indeed among this group of people.
I live in Cobb Country, near Austell and Mableton, but with a Marietta Address. We were ably represented by Dr. Gingrey who lives relatively close to us and whose views were similar about major issues. Now in a absolute abortion we are represented by David Scott who has nothing in common with Cobb County Voters except possibly those around the 6 Flags area. It is insane for people who once were in Newt’s district to be represented by a Democrat! Mr. Scott is also a believer in illegal immigration which isn’t a real popular view among my neighbors, at least the ones who speak English.
Congressional lines, Legislative Lines, and State Senate Lines have to be drawn with some commonality of interest, otherwise why go vote at all. We have been active in politics but other that giving & Raising money to whomever runs against Mr. Scott we won’t be active anymore.
By Melissa
April 22, 2006 03:43 AM | Link to this
Well this Democrat is happy to be represented by David Scott, with his position on immigration and all, but of course I do reside in the Six Flags area. What are you scared to say a predominately black area or is that not PC???
By Tim
April 22, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this
I might mention to the earlier commenter that it was the Republicans who redrew the Congressional Districts, and that one of their prime reasons for doing so was to create a District in which Dr. Gingery would be unbeatable. Well, they succeeded, much to my chagrin. And, as a result, I'm stuck with a Congressman who votes with Bush more than the House Speaker does!By Pompano
April 24, 2006 05:53 PM | Link to this
I agree with UGA 72. What does a Banker know about re-districting? The only reason you need a panel such as the one assembled is so that the traditional “power-players” are protected (such as Calvin Smyre - the token VP for Synovus that Deriso has ssisted before).