02.12.01

By Nathan Hanger

The public’s message was simple and clear Friday night as the General Assembly held a public hearing on redistricting:

Don’t split communities of interest.

Every 10 years, after each census, the Legislature redraws political districts, adjusting them for population changes and shifts. Lawmakers have just started the process and are getting input from Virginians.

For Friday's hearing, more than 20 citizens signed up to speak to a joint committee of senators, delegates and the speaker of the House, along with a room full of onlookers. Perhaps the group with the most representation and voice made the trip from the Northern Neck. More than half of those who spoke expressed their concerns for keeping the tight-knit area together.

"We share a unique economic interest as well as a community of interests," said James Leroy Coupe, a citizen of the Northern Neck. "Keep the Northern Neck together."

The Northern Neck is bounded by the Potomac River to the north, the Rappahannock River to the south and the Chesapeake Bay to the east and is represented in the House by Delegate Albert C. Pollard Jr., D-Lancaster.

Kenneth Pinkard of the Northern Neck Community Action Coalition said, "The Northern Neck is unique when compared to other districts. We work well together."

Keeping communities together is not the only challenge the committee will face this session. Every redistricting period the Legislature must tiptoe around the important yet controversial issue of race.

Edward Blum, senior legal affairs director for the American Civil Rights Institution, talked about the many court cases he has been involved with on the issue of race and how important it will be for the new lines to be drawn in a non-partial manner. "We should redistrict in a way that would bring together all people rather than redraw district lines to create segrecy and discriminatory regions."

But an NAACP official said legislators should not dilute the votes of African Americans. "We should protect the theory of one-man, one-vote and assure black voting strength," said King Salim Khalfani, head of the Richmond chapter of the NAACP.

Many citizens said they don't want sprawling districts.

"How can I be represented by a man that lives 110 miles away?" said Larry Woyer of Westmoreland County. "This seems like taxation without representation."

As well as sharing concerns and complaints, many speakers suggested what they think would be fair redistricting.

"Elementary school attendance zones are a beautiful place to start drawing the lines," Blum said.

The results of the census in Virginia are expected to be available next month. Then the Legislature will start the redrawing process. Assembly lines should be completed by April and congressional lines by December.