Final Redistricting Map changes East Aldine areas to Pct. 2

This portion of the Revised Map A-1 shows Pct. 2 (Comm. Morman) in pink

Lawsuit filed; Hispanics claim map discriminates

By GILBERT HOFFMAN Northeast News
NORTHEAST– Residents and voters of the Aldine area, who are used to receiving services and dealing with Harris County Precinct One, will find themselves in a new precinct after January 1st, 2012 if the new redistricting map survives a court challenge.
Last Tuesday, Aug. 9 the County Commissioners held their fifth public hearing, and then proceeded to adopt what is known as Revised Map A-1. A few changes were made from the original A-1, to respond to criticisms that the Hispanic vote had been diluted and that Pct. 2 was no longer a “Hispanic Opportunity” district.
The changes included returning two precincts in the Huffman area to Eversole’s Pct. 4, and taking five additional precincts in the Aldine area that were Lee’s Pct. 1, and reassigning them to Morman’s Pct. 2. Also, another five would be split between the two precincts. This has the effect of making almost all of East Aldine District now in Precinct 2, where it had been in Precinct 1.

Attorney Gene Locke, whose law firm helped draft the plan, said that he feels the final plan meets the criteria of the Voting Rights Act, and the goals of the commissioners.
Although the Hispanic population in Pct. 2 is now about 60%, and it will be 58.2 in the new plan, nevertheless the new map shows more Hispanic population in Pct. 2 than previously existed. However, the lawsuit filed by city councilmen James Rodriguez and Ed Gonzalez and five others, says that this dilution is not acceptable, and amounts to a “retrogression” not allowed by the Voting Rights Act.
In the public hearings held earlier, State Senator Mario Gallegos and State Representative Armando Walle, both of whom represent the Aldine area, complained about the diultion of Hispanic votes, and the gerrymandering that split their districts. One of the criteria for the remapping had been a “compact” outline, which is not apparent in this map.
The current map returns Precinct 1 to an African-American plurality voting district, and therefore has the support of Commissioner Lee. Hispanic population growth had made existing Pct. 1 an Hispanic plurality.
Hispanics have presented the court with an alternative map, known as the Jara plan, drawn by Robert Jara and activitist Rey Guerra. It redraws the boundaries in a gerrymandered approach, that results in a Pct. 2 with 73 percent Hispanics.
Commissioner Morman, although not Hispanic, pointed out at the Commissioner’s meeting that he is well prepared to represent all constituents including Latinos, and noted that his wife and in-laws are Hispanic origin.
The lawsuit has been filed in federal court, and the first hearing is scheduled for December 2.